The Cal State Fullerton Alumni Association welcomes a new president and five new members to its board of directors. The new president and directors began their term on July 1, 2025, and have begun their volunteer service to represent all Titan alumni through programs, initiatives and service on advisory committees.
President
Antonia Castro-Graham ’00, ’02 (B.A. political science and American studies, MPA-public finance management) is the vice president of policy and regulatory affairs for Avantus, a clean energy company. She previously held the position of director of energy policy and strategy, Americas for BayWa, a leading renewable energy project developer. Prior to this position, she served as vice president of a public affairs firm and spent more than 20 years working in local government. She served as the deputy city manager for the city of Fullerton and as the assistant to the city manager for the city of Huntington Beach. She led regional efforts and created the Orange County Recycling Market Development Zone and created a working group of cities to study community choice energy, eventually forming the Orange County Power Authority. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and American studies and an MPA with a concentration in public finance management from CSUF as well as a master’s degree in sustainability from Arizona State University. She was selected as the Arizona State University School of Sustainability Alumni of the Year in 2018 and the 2022 CSUF MPA Alumni of the Year.
New Board Members
Joe Ahn ’93 (B.A. ethnic studies and political science) is currently the director of government relations and senior business development manager with advanced development programs (Skunk Works) at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. Ahn joined Lockheed Martin from Northrop Grumman Corporation following more than a two-decade tenure, where he most recently served as senior manager of state and local government affairs on the corporate strategy and development team. During his career at Northrop Grumman, Ahn also held positions as the aerospace systems sector division manager. He began his career as a government relations representative at the corporate office headquarters. Prior to his tenure in the aerospace and defense industry, he held key leadership positions of increasing responsibility in the state of California, including executive leadership in the offices of Gov. Gray Davis, State Board of Equalization Vice Chair John Chiang, Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti, Los Angeles Board of Education, and the California Assembly’s Minority Ways and Means Committee.
Charity Capili Ellis ’02 (BFA art-graphic design) graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2002 with a BFA in art with a concentration in graphic design. In 2007, she earned her MFA in visual art from Azusa Pacific University. She is currently the chief executive officer for Loren Myers & Associates, a design company specializing in employee benefits communication. Throughout her career, Ellis has enjoyed teaching design classes and creating designs for clients in a variety of industries. She has worked with Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, Loyola Marymount University and Loyola High School of Los Angeles. Thankful for the opportunities that stemmed from her time at CSUF, she is excited to serve on the Alumni Association board and looks forward to engaging with the greater CSUF community.
Luis Estevez ’99 (B.A. political science-public administration) is a proud Titan alum and earned his bachelor’s degree in political science. During his time at CSUF, he was also an active member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. In 2001, he earned an MPA from Cal State Long Beach. Over the past 26 years, Estevez served in various local government management capacities, most recently serving as the deputy city administrator for the city of Placentia. He is currently the director of the Great Park for the city of Irvine. Estevez has led numerous award-winning local government programs and services and has overseen the delivery of more than $100 million in public works capital improvement projects during his career. In his current capacity, he is the executive responsible for the construction and operation of the $1.2 billion Great Park located at the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. Estevez was appointed in 2021 to represent the Orange County 4th District on the Emergency Medical Care Committee, providing county supervisors with policy advice on emergency medical services. He was a CSUF management fellow for the City Management Fellowship Program in 2023-24.
Gleanne Kienzler ’23 (Ed.D. educational leadership) is a proud first-generation college graduate and alum of CSUF’s doctoral program in educational leadership. She spent 15 years advancing the student experience at institutions, including CSUF, Claremont McKenna College and Brown University. She later transitioned to health care and now serves as the belonging, diversity, equity and inclusion engagement manager at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, where she fosters a culture in which every patient, family and team member feels supported, valued and empowered. Kienzler earned her bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management and an MBA from Hawaii Pacific University.
Linda Lara ’02 (B.A. political science) is the managing partner and co-founder of Lara & Luna APC, a law firm dedicated to advocating for employee rights in the workplace. As an employment law litigator, Lara has devoted her career to representing employees in matters involving illegal discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations. Her advocacy and results have earned her recognition, including being featured on the cover of Orange County Lawyer Magazine as the “Employee’s Advocate.” She has also been consistently named a “super lawyer.” Lara is a proud alum of Cal State Fullerton, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science. During her time at CSUF, she demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership and civic engagement, serving as vice president of Associated Students Inc. and a board member of the Titan Student Union, as well as participating in the Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy. She was also a member of Delta Zeta sorority and continues to honor her alma mater through active involvement and community support.