Board of Directors – Cofusion Group

There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.
Nelson Mandela

Gale Young, Ph.D.

Dr. Gale Young brings three decades of experience using contemplative methods in teaching, coaching, mentoring, and consulting. Dr. Young is Professor Emeritus in Communication, California State University, East Bay. She has been a Buddhist meditation practitioner for 25 years. She continues to research, study, write, and facilitate mindfulness-based practices for conflicts and her social justice work. She specializes in interpersonal, intercultural, and interracial relationships and issues, with an emphasis on facilitating difficult dialogues across differences that matter. Dr. Young has consulted with organizations and educational institutions as they cultivate more equitable and inclusive work environments.

Currently, Dr. Young facilitates a weekly contemplative-based group for residents at Father Alfred’s Recovery Center, in San Francisco, works with individual clients, engages in research, presents at conferences, and is an invited speaker in college classrooms.

Liann Osborne, Ed.D.

Dr. Liann Osborne holds a master’s degree in vocational Rehabilitation from San Francisco State University, and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from California State University, East Bay. Dr. Osborne obtained her doctorate in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from California State University, East Bay. Her research centers on Black Deaf Lives Matter in Deaf Education: Educators who reinforced and counter anti-Blackness while working with Black Deaf students in Deaf Education. Dr. Osborne has extensive professional experiences that push her to evolve to be a better educator and school leader. Her professional experiences have sparked a luminosity within her where she gravitates towards teaching Black and Brown Deaf students the beauty of their existence. She applies Abolitionist pedagogy to teach and lead with love, compassion for all marginalized Deaf students.

Alison Richardson, Ed.D.

Dr. Alison Richardson served as the Director of Equity Initiatives and Executive Director of Student Equity and Success at California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) for five years where she was responsible for increasing the retention and graduation rates of first generation, low-income and underserved students through innovative services and programs. Prior to these appointments, Dr. Richardson served as the Director of the Educational Opportunity Program for six years at CSUEB. For three years, Dr. Richardson served as the Program Development Director at the YMCA of the East Bay, Oakland, CA. At the YMCA, her main focus was developing grant funded community programs and initiatives that centered around health, wellness and education with regards to critical issues crucial within East Bay communities. Before joining the YMCA Dr. Richardson spent twelve years in Higher Education at various universities where she directed residential life, campus events, undergraduate student orientation, student government, involvement and leadership programs.

Dr. Richardson received her Bachelor of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration with an emphasis in Student Personnel from the University of San Francisco, and she received her doctorate in Educational Leadership for Social Justice at California State University, East Bay. Dr. Richardson actively lends her knowledge and expertise to other organizations through training on Leadership, Team Building/Change Management, Diversity, Program Planning and Professional Development. She is currently serving as a volunteer, coordinating the Mentor Program for doctoral students in the Educational Leadership for Social Justice program at California State University.

Gale Young, Ph.D.

Liann Osborne, Ed.D.

Alison Richardson, Ed.D.

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ONE COMMUNITY, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER