Our team blends education, youth work, and community connections to make career learning real and accessible to every student.

Meet theTeam

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  • Executive Director and Founder

    Gianna Biaggi founded the Magnolia Project through a High Tech High New School Creation Fellowship in 2021. She is a social entrepreneur, former teacher and administrator.  She has a B.A. in International Studies from Kenyon College, an M.Ed. from the High Tech High Graduate School of Education, and a CTE Credential. Gianna has had professional fellowships from Future Founders and the Watson Institute, and is the 2017 winner of the Samuel Huntington Award for Public Service.

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  • Director of Schools and Students

    At Magnolia Project, Monica implements educational programs that integrate career-focused learning into the school day. She develops curricula, manages program logistics, and ensures the success of both students and educators.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Latin American and Latino Studies from UC Santa Cruz and pursued her Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. With 16 years in education, Monica has fostered learning and literacy across multiple disciplines with students in middle school, high school, and college, as well as with adults. Inspired by the transformative impact of supportive educators during her own schooling, Monica champions initiatives that equip students to discover and pursue their passions beyond high school.

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  • Community Engagement Manager

    Courtney Epstein is the Community Engagement Manager, where she leads outreach for mentor recruitment, assists with business development, and develops marketing materials for Magnolia Project's programs. She holds her Bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon in Globalization, Environment, and Policy and brings a background in public service, sustainability, and community planning. In Courtney's free time, she enjoys spending time in nature with her puppy, thrifting, and checking out local coffee shops in Sonoma County.J

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  • Programs Associate

    Isabel Maciel is the Programs Associate, where she supports the day-to-day operations of both program activities and office functions. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Sonoma State University and spent much of her college experience working in classrooms throughout Sonoma County. During this time, she saw firsthand the difference that positive mentorship and supportive programs can make in students’ lives. These experiences inspired her passion for educational equity and continue to motivate her work with the Magnolia Project.

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  • Program Implementation Specialist

    Sophie DeWitt is a program strategist and community builder with a background in training, advocacy and operational support. Before joining The Magnolia Project she supported training initiatives at Form Energy and lead the international travel program at Moment. With a passion for making complex programs feel clear, human and actionable, she is drawn to work that builds power through trust, care and collective problem solving. 

Meet the Board

With deep expertise in education and career development, our Board of Directors helps to guide our strategic decision making as we serve the Northern California community.

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  • Jesús Díaz Bonilla is a first generation college graduate with over a decade of experience in public education as mathematics teacher, college and career counselor and alternative education teacher. He also has experience mentoring and supporting students through their foundational mathematics courses through the Academic Excellence Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

    Jesús was born in Puebla, Mexico. He grew up in La Puente, California, where he attended Mt. San Antonio College to earn an Associate Degree in Liberal Studies. Jesús transferred to the University of California, Santa Cruz, to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics and Masters’ Degree in Education. Jesús is a Robert Noyce Scholar and McCarthy Dressman Education Foundation scholar.

    Jesús is passionate about working with students and providing learning experiences that create a meaningful impact in their lives. He recognizes the significance of representations as positive Latino male role models and thrives to be one for his family and community.

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  • Associate Provost of Career and Professional Development, Loyola Marymount University

    Dr. Audra Verrier became the Associate Vice Provost of Career and Professional Development at Loyola Marymount University in January 2023. She has been a leader in higher education for the past 20 years. She has managed departments and teams that focus on career preparation, leadership development, experiential learning, and community engagement for Sonoma State University, California Institute of Integral Studies, Brandeis University, and University of Maine. She has coached and advised 1,000’s of students and professionals to pursue their passions, create careers they love, and complete degree programs while developing themselves as active citizens and engaged leaders.

    Verrier is a facilitator and educator on topics such as strategic planning and organizational development in the non-profit sector, the psychology of leadership, ecopsychology and systems thinking, professional development, and entrepreneurial skills for leaders in education. She is passionate about equity and inclusion advocating for programs and services that provide access for all with a focus on antiracist program development and first-generation students. Dr. Verrier also supports women and professionals to develop a deeper connection to nature as a means of strengthening resilience and moving beyond self-preservation.

    Verrier holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Master of Science in Organizational Management, and a Doctorate in Psychology. Her research focuses on women and BIPOC communities overcoming bias and adversity, career and leadership development, and first generation students. She is married to Rick Verrier and they have three children, Julia (3) and twins Logan and Layla (7 months).

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  • Mairin McCarthy Weiner, a licensed clinical social worker, is an advocate for experiential learning and the proud owner of Middlepath Therapy. Originally from the Midwest, she has called San Francisco home since 2007. With a dual major in psychology and Spanish from Kenyon College and an M.S.W. from Washington University in St. Louis, Mairin is dedicated to guiding kids, adolescents, and parents through psychotherapy. As a parent of five children and a resident of San Francisco with her husband, she actively promotes the connection between education and achieving dreams. Whether reading, hiking, or swimming in the San Francisco Bay, Mairin is committed to breaking self-imposed limitations and fostering a love for learning through her involvement with The Magnolia Project.

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  • Kyle is a Bay Area native and the COO of Paula Skene Designs.  The company, founded in 1978, designs, manufactures and distributes greeting cards.  PSD has an ecommerce business and wholesales to stores including Bergdorf Goodman, Harrod's and more locally Gump's.  Through Paula Skene Designs, Kyle has provided dozens of students their first job and understands how valuable that initial work exposure and experience can be in shaping their interests and trajectory. Outside of work Kyle loves hiking, travelling and basketball.  He currently coaches Boys Basketball at the College Preparatory School and has also coached Girls Basketball at Albany High School.  As a coach Kyle focuses on goal setting and the process of charting a course, be it on the court or in life. Kyle holds a BA in economics from Kenyon College.  

Educator Advisory Board 

  • Superintendent, Geyserville Unified School District

    Born with an inherent passion for education, my journey in shaping young minds commenced in 1996 when I stepped into the world of teaching high school mathematics. Transitioning into an administrative role in 2015 as the Superintendent of Geyserville Unified School District was a pivotal moment. It allowed me to broaden my impact, not just within a classroom but across an entire school community. As a high school administrator, I sought to innovate and implement progressive educational strategies that would empower both students and faculty. In 2023, my efforts were recognized and honored with the prestigious NorCal Public Media Food and Wine Award for Farm-to-Community Leadership. This accolade not only acknowledged my professional contributions but also highlighted the importance of connecting education with community and real-world experiences. My approach to education is focused on innovation, constantly seeking ways to blend traditional knowledge with contemporary tools and methodologies.

  • Director of School Culture and Partnerships, Sonoma County Office of Education

    Sharon has been immersed in the field of education for her entire career, spanning public and private school teaching in 2 countries. After teaching for almost 10 years she transitioned to School Counseling followed by School Administration. Sharon holds 2 bachelor's degrees from Brown University in Biology and Hispanic Literature and Culture, and a Master's Degree from Sonoma State University in School Counseling.  Sharon was an administrator at Windsor's Two-Way Bilingual Immersion School, Cali Calmécac Language Academy, for 9 years and worked one year as Windsor Unified School District's Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services. Currently, Sharon is a Director at the Sonoma County Office of Education in the department of School Culture and Partnerships.

  • Community-Based Schools Coordinator, Guerneville School District

    Dana Pedersen serves as the new Community-Based Schools Coordinator for the Guerneville School District. Priorly,  Ms. Pedersen served 7 years as the district’s Superintendent, where outdoor education, school garden programs, community partnerships, and a college-going/career-oriented atmosphere have laid the foundation for the district’s newly launched community-based school model centered around whole student health opportunities for the families of west Sonoma County. Her passion for problem-based learning and social action projects began over 25 years ago as a bilingual teacher and later principal in the Roseland School District (Santa Rosa, CA).

Industry Advisory Board 

  • Patty Striniste was born in Santa Rosa and earned her B.A. from Sonoma State University. She has spent most of her professional career working in Human Resources in the insurance and wine industries and is currently the Director of People and Culture at Redwood Empire Food Bank. Patty's extracurricular activities include watching her son play sports, working out at OrangeTheory, and during football season watching her beloved 49ers!

    Patty's sense of fulfillment is at its best when she is part of an individual's professional development and growth in their careers. She is honored to be affiliated with the Magnolia Project and will use her professional experience to help with furthering the mission to create experiential learning pathways for middle and high school students to develop them for meaningful careers in our community.

  • Community Outreach Specialist & Public Information Officer (PIO), Sonoma County Fire District

    Karen Hancock is the Community Outreach Specialist and Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Sonoma County Fire District, bringing a wealth of experience from a distinguished career in public safety and law enforcement. Her journey began in 2002 graduating Police Academy as a California State Park Peace Officer Ranger, where she developed a deep understanding of the importance of Crime Prevention programs, particularly for youth in the underserved communities of Imperial and Riverside counties where she was first assigned. Karen was born and raised in Sonoma County and has a bachelor’s degree from Sonoma State University in Biophysical Geography.  After a brief hiatus to focus on her family, Karen returned to law enforcement, joining the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. There, she held several critical roles, including as a 911 Dispatcher and Detention Specialist Supervisor in the jail, culminating in her work as a Community Services Officer within the Crime Prevention Unit and Field PIO on the Sheriff’s Crisis Communications Team. Karen's commitment to community engagement and public safety is further demonstrated by her role as the Sonoma County Fire District’s PIO, where she has been pivotal during emergencies and disasters providing information to the public in both English and Spanish. In her current role, Karen continues to leverage her extensive background in public safety, community service, and crisis communication to foster strong community relations and enhance public safety outreach initiatives through prevention programs promoting life safety risk reduction for the communities she serves in Sonoma County.

  • Associate Attorney, Dependency Legal Services

    Dominic M. Rosales was born and raised in Sonoma County, and has supported underserved populations within the County for nearly a decade. Dominic worked in the Sonoma County Public Conservator / Guardian / Administrator’soffice in the Adult & Aging Department of Sonoma County Human Services for seven years. While in that office, he worked with older adults with dementia, serious mental disorders, and developmental delays.

    After graduating Valedictorian of his Law School and becoming a licensed attorney in 2022, Dominic began working with Dependency Legal Services, a non-profit organization that provides court-appointed representation to indigent parents navigating juvenile dependency cases. Dominic’s educational background in the Humanities and Sociology has fostered a passion for continuing to provide assistance and services to the underrepresented and marginalized populations in Sonoma County. Dominic is ingrained in the local legal community, being a member of the Diversity & Inclusion section of the local Bar Association and a member of the Association’s “Pipeline”, geared towards students with an interest in pursuing a legal career.