Board Members

MEMBERS OF THE MENTAL HEALTH BOARD

Board Officers:

Chair
Lara Minda Siazon Arguelles
Seat #13
Family Member Seat
Appointee of the Board of Supervisors
            Ms. M. Lara Siazon Arguelles was forced to move to the United States with her five children because her husband was deported from the Philippines in 1970 before Martial Law. This experience has shaped her volunteer work in agencies that deal with new immigrants to the United States, and provided her with a unique understanding of the issues they face.
            Ms. Arguelles' daughter, who was studying at Sorbonne University in Paris during her senior year at UC Berkeley, was hospitalized and diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Ms. Arguelles became a strong advocate for mental health services and was appointed by the San Francisco Supervisors to a Family Member Seat on the San Francisco Mental Health Board. She also trained with the Mental Health Association of San Francisco to be a Mental Health Advocate.
            In addition, Ms. Arguelles is the Co-Founder of Families Of Recently paroled Women (FORWARD); Men for Action toward Reunification Development, a self-help support group in the community created to provide a safe place to address the needs of families, children and friends of parolees.
            She is also a member of the San Francisco National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She volunteers her time helping at the Potrero Hill Senior Center and offers to drive and accompany the elderly in her neighborhood to their doctors appointments. She tries to educate the seniors about the services that are available to them, especially mental health services.
            Ms. Arguelles says she is so blessed with a loving family therefore she wants to share her joy and dedicates her free time helping families and those living alone. She believes that "A strong family unit is the foundation of a great society."

Vice Chair
Lynn Fuller
Seat #10
Family Member
Appointee of Supervisor Mark Farrell
            Ms. Lynn Fuller is an attorney and a mother of four. A native Californian, she has lived in San Francisco since 1988. Professionally, she is an attorney with the United States Courts. She is an active volunteer in the community and is especially interested in brain health and brain science.

Secretary
Ellis C. Joseph
Seat #14
Family Member Seat
Appointee of the Board of Supervisors
            Mr. Ellis Joseph was born and raised in San Francisco where he has resided other than when he was in the military and in school. While in school he received a Master's Degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Marketing, and a Master's Degree in Taxation.
            He was a professional wedding and portrait photographer for 22 years. He was married and has one daughter.
            He worked for FIMA as a First Strike Search and Rescue, Administrative Officer and Emergency Medical Technician. He was one of the pioneers of the single parent Emergency Shelter Person Program. He was a foster parent for 17 years. While providing this service he became acutely aware of the problems and stigma associated with mental health issues such as bipolar disorder which led him to the Mental Health Board to find ways to help people to fight this stigma.
            He is a member of NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness). He has served on the Board of the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society as the Treasurer for the last 13 years.
            Mr. Joseph has been the owner of Joseph Associates for over 45 years, which is the parent company for Joseph Tax Services, providing income tax specialists and Sayityourway.biz, the virtual communications and promotions part of the business. With mental health, Ellis envisions opening communication in such a way that families are more aware of what is available to help them help their loved ones get the help they need as early as possible.

Linda L. Bentley
Seat #4
Public Interest Seat
Appointee of Supervisor David Chiu
            Ms. Linda Bentley is currently a news editor with The ABIS Group of Startspot Mediaworks with an M.S.J. from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University; in Evanston, Illinois. Ms. Bentley also has a M.S. in school counseling from San Francisco State University and worked as a classroom counselor at a day treatment facility for seriously emotionally disturbed children in the 1980s. Her interest encompasses all aspects of mental health, but she has a particular interest in mental health services for women veterans. She has recently returned to San Francisco where she has lived for most of her adult life. Her son and grandson also live in San Francisco.

Kara Ka Wah Chien
Seat # 3
Public Interest Seat
Appointee of Supervisor Jane Kim
            Ms. Kara Chien has worked for the public interest since becoming a lawyer in 1989. She has practiced law exclusively as a Deputy Public Defender for 23 years. Ms. Chien has extensive experience representing indigent clients in Juvenile, Criminal and Mental Health law. As the Mental Health Unit Managing Attorney, she and her team advocate for clients with chronic and severe mental illness -- both in civil and criminal courts. Ms. Chien endorses public education, early intervention and strong community support in promoting wellness for mental health.

Inspector Kelly Dunn
Seat #11
Public Interest Seat
Appointee of Supervisor Scott Wiener
            Inspector Kelly Dunn became an officer for the San Francisco Police Department in 2001. Prior to becoming a police officer, she worked in mental health as a psychiatric technician for the Mobile Crisis Treatment teams in San Francisco and Oakland, Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute at the University of California, San Francisco, the Tom Smith Substance Abuse Treatment Center at San Francisco General Hospital, and at the Mount Zion Crisis Clinic. Before these positions, her first job in mental health was at Napa State Hospital on an all male forensic unit.
        Ms. Dunn’s education began at Mount San Jacinto College and she received her psychiatric technician license from Napa Valley College. She is currently working on her Bachelor of Science degree at California State University, Long Beach. She is also trained and certified in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and is a Certified Chemical Dependency Nurse.

Wendy James
Seat #1
Consumer Seat
Appointee of Supervisor John Avalos

Noah L. King
Seat #6
Consumer
Appointee of Supervisor Malia Cohen
          Noah L. King, III is a native San Franciscan, raised in Visitacion Valley. He attended Independence High School and a few years at Columbus State College. He has three sisters and one brother. Mr. King enjoys sports and volunteering for important causes such as the Conservation Corps, where he led junior high school and high students in cleaning up beaches and public parks.
          Mr. King formerly worked for Community Vocational Services and Community Behavioral Health Services for three years.

Alyssa Landy
Seat #9
Family Member
Appointee of Supervisor Eric L. Mar
            Ms. Alyssa Landy is a 4th grade public school teacher in San Mateo at an International Baccalaureate school. She is a native of Massachusetts and has lived in San Francisco since 1997. She is a member of NAMI and the San Francisco Democratic Women in Action. Ms. Landy received her MA in Elementary Education San Francisco State University.
            Ms. Landy is passionate about mental health issues. She is motivated by public policy, services and patient and family needs. She dedicates her time and energy into helping others.

Dr. David Elliott Lewis
Seat #7
Consumer
Appointee of Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi
            David Elliott Lewis, PhD, majored in Psychology at UC Los Angeles. Originally driven to seek greater self understanding, as his focus shifted to practical applications of Psychology, he continued his education to obtain a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
            For the first part of his career, he worked as a management consultant to the Human Resources departments of large organizations. He helped create surveys, seminars and software to assist in executive performance assessment, training and development.
In addition, from 1985 to 1989, he taught Masters level courses in the Human Resources and Organizational Development program at the University of San Francisco.
He spent his first couple of years after graduate school working for the Mill Valley management consulting firm VICI Associates International. After leaving VICI, he co-founded and ran Strategic Edge (1985 to 2000), a database software development, publishing and management consulting company.
            At age forty, Dr. Lewis suffered a significant reversal of fortune - including the sudden loss of a parent, the collapse of a long marriage and then his business. This triggered a severe and disabling depression. With time and help from psychologists and other therapists, he has started to recover. Dr. Lewis’ values also changed and as a result, he transitioned to living simply and devoting his life to service, art and activism. He devotes his time to writing, photography and volunteering, all with a focus on improving himself by helping his community, the democratic process and striving for social justice.
            He has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Community Housing Partnership and also Central City Democrats. He is also on the board for the Alliance for a Better District 6.
           In October 2010, he started a public speaking tour for the Mental Health Association of San Francisco's S.O.L.V.E. program (Sharing Our Lives Voices & Experiences) to help destigmatize mental illness.

Virginia S. Lewis, LCSW
Seat #5
Family Member Seat
Appointee of President Carmen Chu
            Ms. Virginia S. Lewis, LCSW is a clinical social worker (MSW, UC Berkeley, 1985), a seasoned psychotherapist in private practice for over 20 years. She has wide-ranging expertise treating clients in many areas: depression, anxiety, anger; conflict resolution; addictions; emotional issues of chronic illness (HIV/AIDS); employment and Worker's compensation issues; transitions. Her clients are from diverse backgrounds including gay and heterosexual individuals and couples, people of color, as well as immigrants struggling with acculturation.
            Ms. Lewis was Advanced to Candidacy for her Ph.D. in Sociology at UCLA in 1977. For many years as a research sociologist/consultant, she worked with firms conducting large and small-scale evaluations of government and privately funded social and substance abuse prevention programs (drug, alcohol and domestic violence). She is familiar with the culture and operations of medical, justice, and social services organizations and with state and federal bureaucracies.
            Community service is a strong value of hers. In addition to her membership on the Mental Health Board, she is presently Board President of a private, non-denominational organization, the Night Ministry, which nightly provides counseling and service referrals in San Francisco's disadvantaged neighborhoods. The target population includes the destitute, people who are homeless and those who are severely mentally ill. She is responsible for achieving collaborative governance, program development and fund-raising. She is a member of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) which provides assistance to the mentally ill and their families.

Lena Miller
Seat #15
Mental Health Professional Seat
Appointee of Board of Supervisors
            Ms. Lena Miller is the founder and co-Executive Director of the Hunters Point Family agency. Lena founded the agency in 1997, with GIRLS 2000, the agency seminal program. Ms. Miller was raised in Bayview-Hunters Point and educated in San Francisco’s public schools. She received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a Masters Degree in Social Work from San Francisco State University. Before founding the Hunters Point Family, she was a Special Assistant to the Mayor under Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. in the Mayor’s Office of Equity programs, where she helped to resolve issues and create opportunities for minority businesses in San Francisco.
            Ms. Miller is primarily responsible for development within the HUNTERS POINT FAMILY, growing the agency’s seminal program, GIRLS 2000, from a tiny after-school girls program to a community development agency with over 4 program sites, 3 urban farms, and workforce development programs.  In 2009, she launched the agency’s newest division: Ujamaa Employment and Entrepreneurship.  Ujamaa includes over 5 major workforce development contracts and will include the Get Fresh Juice Bar and Café.
            Ms. Miller’s efforts to develop and implement quality programs for high risk youth in Bayview Hunters Point has been recognized by the United States Senate, Assembly, and Congress for our work in violence prevention and mental health with “high-risk” youth, and includes the following awards and recognition: Certificate of Recognition for work in Violence Prevention from Senator Leland Yee; Certificate of Appreciation for work in Violence Prevention from Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, Majority Whip; Certificate of Recognition for efforts to address mental health from Senator Carol Migden; and Exceptional Programs and People Award for Promoting Mental Health for Youth, from the San Francisco Dept. of Public Health.

Alphonse Vinh
Seat #2
Consumer Seat
Appointee of Supervisor Sean Elsbernd
            Mr. Alphonse Louis Vinh was educated at Yale University, the University of Michigan, Boston University, and Simmons College. He has a broad range of interests and perspectives. As a Yale undergraduate, he read Classical Civilization and Intellectual History. Mr. Vinh went on to get his teaching license from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Michigan. At Boston University School of Theology, He served as an assistant minister, preaching, conducting services, ministering to the sick and shut-ins, and developed three spiritual growth groups. Mr. Vinh returned to his Alma Mater to become a Fellow of Berkeley College, Yale University, and served as a reference librarian at the Main University Library. He also served as Coordinator of User Education for Yale senior essay writers and doctoral students. As a writer, he has published an academic book and contributed essays to other scholarly books. Mr. Vinh has published more than 60 essays and reviews, as well as poetry and one short story. Recently, he edited many business reference books for a Russian information company. He has been an AIDS hotline counselor, and patient support/patient care work at a hospice in New England. As a staff member for NPR News, Mr. Vinh provided research, advice on experts to interview, and ideas for programming. He even had his own on-line column, reviewing new books and ideas. He interviewed such celebrities as singer Judy Collins and food writer, Amanda Hesser. Mr. Vinh is planning to return to graduate school to get his Master's in Counseling Psychotherapy.

Errol Wishom
Seat #12
Consumer
Appointee of the Board of Supervisors
            Mr. Errol Wishom is a native San Franciscan, the son of Azielee and Frank Lee Wishom and the youngest of eight children. He graduated from Reardon High School in 1983 and then from San Francisco State University in 1993 with a degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. After college he traveled and lived in Granada, Spain for several months.
            Errol worked for Safeway Stores as a journeyman food clerk for twelve years. He is a former United States Marine Corps reservist. Errol worked at San Francisco General Hospital as a peer counselor. He is also a speaker for “In Our Own Voices” with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Virginia Wright
Seat #16
Family Member Seat
Appointee of the Board of Supervisors
            Ms. Virginia Wright is the mother of four children, one of whom has been a part of the Children's System of Care. Virginia brings years of experience as a parent in the system and a passion for advocacy and helping others.

Board Seats in Numerical Order

Wendy James
Seat #1
Consumer
Appointee of Supervisor John Avalos

Alphonse Vinh
Seat #2
Consumer
Appointee of Supervisor Sean Elsbernd

Kara Ka Wah Chien
Seat #3
Public Interest
Appointee of Supervisor Jane Kim

Linda L. Bentley
Seat #4
Public Interest
Appointee of Supervisor President David Chui

Virginia S. Lewis, LCSW
Seat #5
Family Member
Appointee of Supervisor Carmen Chu

Noah L. King
Seat #6
Consumer
Appointee of Supervisor Malia Cohen

Dr. David E. Lewis
Seat #7
Consumer
Appointee of Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi

Vacancy
Seat #8
Mental Health Professional
Appointee of Supervisor David Campos

Alyssa Landy
Seat #9
Family Member
Appointee of Supervisor Eric Mar

Lynn Fuller
Seat #10
Family Member
Appointee of Supervisor Mark Farrell

Kelly Dunn
Seat #11
Public Interest
Appointee of Supervisor Scott Wiener

Errol Wishom
Seat #12
Consumer
Appointee of the Board of Supervisors

Lara Minda Siazon Arguelles
Seat #13
Family Member
Appointee of the Board of Supervisors

Ellis C. Joseph
Seat #14
Family Member
Appointee of the Board of Supervisors

Lena Miller
Seat #15
Mental Health Professional
Appointee of the Board of Supervisors

Virginia Wright
Seat #16
Family Member
Appointee of the Board of Supervisors

Vacancy
Seat #17
Board of Supervisors
Appointee of the Board of Supervisors