Board of Directors

LaShonda Johnson

Shonda has over 12 years of experience working directly with youth in educational programs and school settings, providing several students with individual and group counseling. She has worked in many grade levels in Los Angeles County, including elementary, middle, K-8, high schools, and colleges. Over the years she has helped several students improve academic achievement, develop life goals, prepare for college admissions, and to take effective steps toward preparing for a successful future. Shonda also works as a summer counselor at UCLA. She is a first-generation college student and received her master's in counseling psychology from Mount St. Mary’s College and earned a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling. Shonda leads workshops on student well-being and school and college success and works for multiple community organizations. 

Marilyn Saucedo

Marilyn has 17 years of experience as a classroom instructor, teaching English as a Second Language, Spanish, World History, and Math in both bilingual and mainstream classroom settings. She also has 17 years as a school site and district administrator working with district and school administrators, teachers, students, and parents to build capacity for learning through collaborative partnerships. She was Beaumont Unified School District's director of college and career readiness. Marilyn also gathers data for comprehensive analysis during an academic climate review of a classroom, school, or district, bolstering efficacy. She holds a doctorate's in education from Brandman University, is a child of immigrants, and a member of the Elevated Achievement Group, which leads educators to create environments of educational ownership so to support academic achievement. 

Ron Vincent

Ron is a retired high school teacher and successful instructor for Advancement Via Individual Determination, a nonprofit that influences lives by helping schools transition to a more equitable, student-centered approach. He has invested more than four decades in youth development, working with over 7000 emerging adults, many of whom are minorities and low-income families. Ron has served as teacher representative in the California Teachers Association Representative Assembly. He is also a professor sought out for his expertise in pedagogy and effective communication – teaching at California State University, Stanislaus and among others. He has authored several books, including fiction and nonfiction, and earned graduate degrees from Texas A&M and the University of Notre Dame. 

Philip Zimbardo

Phil is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Stanford University and has taught at NYU and Columbia, among others. He is recognized as the "voice and face of contemporary American psychology" through his widely seen PBS-TV series, Discovering Psychology. Phil was the principal investigator of the Stanford Prison Experiment, now in its 50th Anniversary (2021). He has served as the president of the American Psychological Association and Western Psychological Association. Phil is also the founder and president of the Heroic Imagination Project, which is based on his research in good and evil and uses psychological interventions to train all people to be everyday heroes.

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President

Joe Dorri

Joe is the founder of the Good Student. He graduated in the top 69 among two million community college students. He was also recognized by the California State Legislature for his academic excellence, leadership, and service. Joe completed four graduate-level psychology courses as a part of his undergraduate degree at the University of Southern California, shared his research at the Western Psychological Association's Convention, and earned a master's in education. He was awarded the Ed Walsh Service Award for service to the community and college. He conducts research, teaches, mentors, presents, and develops the Student Success Survey.