Our Board of Directors
Hello! We'd like to introduce ourselves.
Sule Balkan (she/her)
President
Sule Balkan, Ph.D., is currently a Senior Data Scientist for Ameriprise Financial, bringing 22 years of data science experience to our board. Previously Sule taught information systems, data mining, and business analytics for over ten years at Arizona State University, National Chiao Tung University of Taiwan, and Portland State University. She received a Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of Arizona and a B.S. degree from Middle East Technical University in Turkey. Sule's called Portland home since 2016 and became a Six Sigma Black Belt in 2000.
Carol Mitchell (she/her)
Immediate Past President
Carol is a retired registered nurse, whose career of 44 years encompassed critical care nursing, education in academia and acute care, and nursing administration. She founded and was President of Carol Mitchell and Associates, providers of continuing education for healthcare professionals for 20 years. Following her business venture, Carol served as Director and Assistant Administrator at Providence St. Vincent. A native of Portland, she graduated from OHSU with her BSN and MN degrees.
Nhi Nguyen (she/her)
Vice President & Board Secretary
Nhi Nguyen is currently a Strategic Planning Consultant at Legacy Health, where she has worked since 2011 in a variety of finance roles. Nhi holds an MS in Financial Analysis from Portland State University. Growing up in Vietnam as the daughter of a social worker, she has been involved in social initiatives from an early age, including youth development projects, student government, and serving on Portland Community College’s Budget Advisory Council. Nhi is a champion of diversity and equity and recently served as co-chair of Legacy’s Asian, Pacific Island, and Hawaiian Employee Resource Group.
Jeff Perry (he/him)
Board Treasurer
Jeff Perry is CFO of Multnomah County Integrated Clinical Services. A recent transplant from Chicago, he brings experience in finance and accounting management in competitive and rapidly evolving industries such as consumer packaged goods, telecommunications, and wireless for high-volume, multibillion-dollar corporations as well as start-up companies. He has an MBA and an MS in Accountancy. He also holds BS degrees in Finance and International Business.
Alice Bergman (she/her)
Board Member
Forever inquisitive, Alice has an MA in International Management, from the University of Texas at Dallas and in Counseling Psychology, from Pacific University. She also has a Certificate in Personnel (HR) from UC Berkeley and in Spiritual Direction from Urban Spirituality Center. Alice spent the early part of her career in HR, specializing in recruitment for academic institutions, government, high-tech, low-tech, and nonprofits, before becoming a mental health therapist.
During retirement, Alice volunteered for Maybelle Center as a visitation volunteer and is currently engaged with Red Cross and representing her neighborhood through Providence Hospice Education Committee. When not volunteering, Alice enjoys walking, yoga, meditation, reading, and her latest venture–taking guitar lessons.
Carol Dodson (she/her)
Board Member
Carol Dodson recently retired as a nurse educator and administrator for Clackamas Community College. Carol advocates that every nurse is a mental health nurse and oversaw student practicums at Maybelle Center for over a decade–something she credits positively affecting how future nurses interact with patients. Carol has an MS in Nursing from OHSU and a BSN from State University.
Rev. John J. Donato, C.S.C (he/him)
Board Member
Rev. John Donato, CSC is the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Portland. Fr. Donato is a member of the University of Portland’s President’s Leadership Council. Before beginning his role in university administration, Fr. Donato served as the Director of Human Formation at Mount Angel Seminary.
Fr. Donato sits on the board for the Association of Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASACCU) and is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). Additionally, Fr. Donato is an Honorary Member of the American Educational Research Association.
Tom Doyle (he/him)
Board Member
Tom Doyle is the Director for Nonprofit Services at Becker Capital Management, where he assists nonprofits and their boards with planning and critical operating issues. He has extensive service and leadership experience within nonprofits and religious organizations. Tom has led organizations that have attempted to address the challenges of people experiencing social isolation in contexts ranging from higher education to direct services for people experiencing poverty and homelessness.
He is delighted to be back home in the Pacific Northwest and takes advantage of our extraordinary mountains, rivers, and bike trails. Tom uses his life experiences and education (BA, MDiv, MBA) to support integrity and healing in our world.
Sharon Peters (she/her)
Board Member
Sharon is an experienced health care regulatory practitioner, management-side employment lawyer, and strategic thinker who delivers practical, cost-effective solutions that align with clients’ objectives. She provides counsel regarding challenging patient and workforce issues and various other provider operations. Sharon is committed to guiding Catholic and faith-based health systems through a complex regulatory world consistent with her clients’ mission and ethical directives.
Jackie Smith (she/her)
Board Member
Jackie Smith regularly volunteers at Maybelle Center as a visitor and as sings in our community choir. She also volunteers with The Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon and is an active member of Maybelle Center.
Wendy Shumway (she/her)
Board Member
Wendy's served on numerous boards in the social services sector, including Multnomah County Clinics, Adult Mental Health Substance Abuse, A Home For Everyone, Transportation Advisory Board, and several Cascadia Behavioral Health Committee's. She also volunteers at Sister of the Road, Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter, Rose Haven, and Maybelle Center (where she's also a member). Wendy draws upon her life experience and training as a Peer Wellness Specialist to educate others on advocating for their physical, mental, spiritual, and holistic health and to live prosperous lives without fear of reprisal or judgment.
Michelle Meyer (she/her)
Ex-officio: Executive Director
Michelle has a passion for facilitating connections among and between people and the causes they care about. For more than twenty years she has worked as a dedicated fundraiser at a variety of non-profits. In addition to cultivating resources, she has experience working with non-profit boards, organizational management, and strategic planning. She brings considerable experience and drive for organizational culture-building to her work, as well as a collaborative style, and deep commitment to fostering principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Recent Board Members
Peggy J. Brey
Dave Demots
Austin Carmichael
Paul Clithero
Pete Craven
Jon Hofmeister
Paul Henningsen
David Houglum, Ph.D.
Christy Kimberlin
Nick Knapp
Frances Lynch
Kala Mayer, RN, MPH, PhD
Kellen Norwood
Kevin O'Brien
Hollie Packman
Andy Robbins