Candidate for
Board Member; Marin Community College District

Current COM Trustee Diana is currently serving her first term on the College of Marin Board of Trustees. She has had great success working collaboratively with her fellow Trustees and the Community to improve the functionality of both campuses. (create link to issues here.) A professional, Marin county resident, mother and community leader for more than 30 years. Diana has lived in Marin County since 1982; she is married to Elias Olson and has a daughter and son from her first marriage and a stepson from her second marriage. She has 5 grandchildren.

Diana's stepson took classes at the College of Marin and went on to graduate from USC film school in spite of having learning disabilities. Her daughter, who graduated from UCLA, took classes at COM in the summer to complete required courses that were full at the university. Both now work in the entertainment industry.

Diana has had to overcome many obstacles on the road to her successful career as a nonprofit executive director of organizations that give people the skills and support they need to succeed. As a single mom with young children, she had to leave behind her coursework toward a degree in counseling to provide for her children. In the course of just a year, she advanced from being an assistant analyst to the Deputy Drug Program Administrator position.

Community Leader In addition to her work on the COM Board, Diana has been active on many boards and commissions in Marin, particularly those dealing with families and the problems associated with drug and alcohol abuse. She has directed non-profits for 30 years addressing a variety of human needs including alcohol and other drug problem treatment, prevention, and public policy; support services for low-income, elderly, and minority communities; ex-offender re-entry services; mental health services, and services for people with developmental disabilities.

Her current position is as CEO of Parca, an organization that serves people with developmental disabilities and their families.

For 3 years, Diana was Executive Director of the Novato Human Needs Center and from 1994 to 2000, she served as executive director of the Marin Institute (one of the major projects of the Buck Trust). While at the Marin Institute, Diana served as an expert quoted in national periodicals and on various televised news and radio programs regarding alcohol policy. She continues to work as a consultant nationally on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug policy and other public health policies.

She is the Founding Board President of West Bay Housing Development Corporation (housing for people with special needs). She is a member of the Governing Council, and past Executive Board member, of the American Public Health Association.

Looking Forward Diana looks forward to serving another term on the COM Board of Trustees and to keeping our Community College on the right track serving students of all ages.

Diana lives in Mill Valley with her husband Elias, and enjoys hiking, reading, playing with her grandkids and jewelry design.