Myrna Holden, Chair, holds a Ph.D. in Social/Clinical Psychology from The Wright Institute, an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from California State University San Francisco, and a B.A. in English from the University of California Santa Barbara.  Dr. Holden specializes in clinical and research training in mental health and was the Director of Student Mental Health Services at City College of San Francisco until her retirement. From 1984-1997, she had her own private clinical practice in San Francisco and Berkeley.  She has provided extensive training and consultation to various mental health clinics such as Kaiser Hospital Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic, Mt. Zion Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic at San Francisco, and University of California Berkeley Counseling Center, and has been a presenter at the California State Psychological Association Conference in San Diego, American Psychological Association Conference in Chicago, Illinois, and Michigan State University Conference on Women, Flint, Michigan.

Chamroeun Heng, Vice Chair, is a recent graduate of U.C. Berkeley in Molecular and Cell Biology. He left Cambodia in 2002 and came to California to pursue his education in Medicine. Chmroeun is adamantly committed to understanding the challenges of the Cambodia refugees and passionate about giving them all that he has. "I want to make the most of what I know and what I can do to help those who need my services."

Christine Hopkins, Secretary, is an attorney with extensive experience in benefits for seniors and people with disabilities.   She has advocated for mentally disabled homeless and refugee clients for Homeless Action Center in Berkeley, California, the East Bay Community Law Center, and Samuelson Law, Technology and Public Policy Clinic.    Currently she works as an Associate Attorney at the Law Offices of John F. Martin, practicing Civil Rights, Employment, and Disability Law.  She holds a J.D. from University of California Berkeley School of Law, and a B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) from Bates College.  She is also a member of California Women Lawyers Association, Contra Costa County Bar Association, State Bar of California, U.S. Northern District, and U.S. Eastern District Court.

Fariba Khosravani, Treasurer, has been supporting a number of organizations serving underprivileged communities through her anonymous and generous donations, in the past two decades. Her participation at our board has been inspired by her commitment to keeping ROYA’s spirit alive at CERI.

Nazila Tobaie, Treasurer,an immigrant from Iran, came to the U.S. to continue her education after she was expelled from university by the Islamic Republic Regime’s authorities. Losing three of her closest family members to the atrocities of this regime, she has a deep yearning to help trauma survivors.

Taghi Amjadi, Ph.D., Member is an immigrant from Iran. His commitment to freedom and justice. has fueled his passion in his work as a therapist with the survivors of torture and trauma Taghi works students of various cultures and ethnicities at S.F. State Counseling Center.

Mahnaz Rastakhiz, Member,has a B.A. in Arts,and has extensive training in negotiation,management and public relations.She is employed with the State of California, Mahnaz came to USA as a student in 1978 prior to the revolution in her native country Iran. Despite being an immigrant who came here by choice with adequate resources,she always remembers how essential it was to get a helping hand during those first few years.She is now here to be that helping hand to other refugees and immigrants.

James Gracer M.D., Member, is an internist as well as a psychiatrist with 22 years of experience and is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Gracer has been wholeheartedly donating pro-bono psychiatric evaluation and medication management to more than 200 Cambodian refugees since October 2001. These services has brought much needed healing to the difficult lives of these refugees. Dr. Gracer has been providing the same free of charge services to the Afghan, Bosnian, Iranian, Laotian and Vietnamese clients at CERI.

Kamran Afary, Member, received his PH.D in Performance Studies from Northwestern University. He has extensive experience working with and developing community arts organizations. Dr. Afary teaches Communication Studies at Cal State University in Los Angeles and was a programmer at KPFK radio in Los Angeles from 1980 to 1998.  He wrote his dissertation on grassroots organizations in Los Angeles during the 1990s. Afary has worked extensively with Iranian and South Asian immigrants.

Michael Natali, B.S., RTH, Member, opened his first pharmacy in East Oakland in 1971. He has served the underprivileged refugee and immigrant populations as well ethnic minorities for over 35 years. His compassion and the nurturing quality of his service have played a healing factor in the lives of many of his clients throughout the years.

Derick Chan, Youth Services Program Assistant:
Derick Chan, age 29, is a Cambodian refugee born in a refugee camp in ThailandHe has been working at ROYA’s program as a youth intern, since June, 2008 . He aspires to be a leader and mentor for at risk youth and children in his own community

Elham Yavarian , MFTI:
Elham Yavarian, MFTI, works with children and youth of refugee families living in poor and high crime neighborhoods of Oakland. She provides family, individual and group therapy. She has a background in working within her own refugee/immigrant community.

Hamid Shafie, MFTI:
Hamid Shafie has been involved in the foundation of CERI and works with adult survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide as well as their youth and children in individual, family and group settings. He has been a social activist and tutor for many years, working with vulnerable teens.

Sandra Pech, Interpreter:
Sandra Pech, age 40, is a survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide. She came to the United States as a teen, after living in refugee camps in Thailand for three years. Sandra is one of the co-founders of CERI. She serves our Cambodian clients as CERI’s Executive Assistant and Chief interpreter.

SokChea Heng, Information Technology support:
SokChea has been living in the U.S. since January, 2008. He had served in non profit organizations in Cambodia as a project manager. He helps CERI with technological support, he has spontaneously grown into being a mentor for ROYA’s youth and children.

Thavery Hov, Youth Services Program Assistant:
Thavery Hov, born to a family of Cambodian refugees was hired as a Youth intern for TOYA’s program program in February 2008. She aspires to be a mentor , serving her community as a teacher or social worker.