Today, the Conrad Prebys Foundation announced the addition of three distinguished members to its Board of Directors – Dr. Constance M. Carroll, President and CEO of the California Community College Baccalaureate Association; Victoria Hamilton, President of California Arts Advocates; and Dr. Mary Walshok, recently retired UCSD Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Programs and, Dean, University Extension.
Incoming board members will commence service on the foundation board in December and serve a three-year term.
“We are delighted to welcome these three extraordinary leaders, with deep expertise in education, arts and culture, and regional economies, to our foundation,” said Conrad Prebys Foundation CEO Grant Oliphant. “Their insight, connections, and experience will be invaluable to us as we continue to work to create an inclusive, equitable, and dynamic future for all San Diegans.”
Dr. Constance Carroll serves as President and CEO of the California Community College Baccalaureate Association, a nonprofit organization that she founded in 2021 to aid and expand opportunities for the state’s 116 community colleges to offer four-year degrees in selected workforce fields that now require a bachelor’s degree. Prior to this role, Dr. Carroll served as Chancellor of the San Diego Community College District from 2004 to 2021, making her the longest-serving chancellor in the district’s history.
Victoria Hamilton’s expertise in government, grantmaking, strategic planning and non-profit management spans over 45 years in the field of the visual and performing arts. She is the founding Director of the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, President of California Arts Advocates, past President of Californians for the Arts, and Chair-Elect of Forever Balboa Park. She is the recipient of numerous awards including Americans for the Arts and United States Urban Arts Federation.
Dr. Mary Walshok has authored more than 100 articles, reports, and book chapters on regional innovation, workforce development, and the role of research institutions in regional economies. She led continuing education and public programs arm of UC San Diego from 1981 to 2021. As Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Programs, Dr. Walshok continued to play an active role in helping the university expand its local impact, national reputation, and global reach.
“Joining the Conrad Prebys Foundation's board is a true pleasure, and it aligns perfectly with my work expanding opportunities for all members of our community – especially those who have been denied the chance to fully achieve their dreams,” said Dr. Carroll. “Our community needs to continue to invest in its workforce, and there are so many with great potential we can support their success by investing in opportunities that align with community needs.”
“I am passionate about advancing the arts and the role that arts and culture can play to bring communities together, provide economic opportunity, and create a true sense of belonging,” said Victoria Hamilton. “The Conrad Prebys Foundation’s strategy ensures that all members of the community can create and engage in the arts to make an even more vibrant region. I am personally invested in this strategy as a means to build inclusion and belonging for everyone in San Diego.”
“Prebys has an opportunity to continue to invest in underfunded communities and initiatives,” said Dr. Walshok. “I am particularly excited to bring my background in strengthening regional economies to build relationships and strengthen the foundation’s work.”
“We are so pleased to have these three individuals join our board,” said Conrad Prebys Foundation Board Chair Anthony Cortes. “They are truly leading lights in our community and will provide us with wisdom and skills in their respective fields to serve the people of San Diego.”
When the new members formally join the board in December, the board of directors will consist of five men and five women of diverse backgrounds. In 2022, the Prebys board of directors set out to establish gender parity and believes its composition will allow the board better to reflect the needs and viewpoints across the region.
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About The Conrad Prebys Foundation
The Conrad Prebys Foundation is the largest private foundation in San Diego County and works to create an inclusive, equitable, and dynamic future for all San Diegans. The Foundation advances excellence and shared opportunity through investments in groundbreaking institutions, ideas, and people to ensure more San Diegans are financially secure, healthy, empowered, uplifted, and connected. The institutions and systems that serve the region can offer equitable access to opportunity. TCPF invests in four program areas: visual and performing arts, medical research, healthcare, and youth success, and pays attention to the impact of its work on climate, the region’s character as a border region, and a robust democracy.