Staff

Randi Aho

INTERIM ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Randi Aho is a civic and social impact leader with over a decade of experience advancing civic engagement, equity, youth leadership, and cross-sector collaboration. She serves as Interim Associate Director at the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State LA, where she helps lead the Institute’s strategic initiatives, partnerships, operations, and public engagement efforts. Her work focuses on strengthening civic participation, expanding access to civic education, and advancing governance and policy conversations across California.

Before joining the Institute, Randi worked at the Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute and the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University, where she managed national and international human rights initiatives and convenings. Her research and fieldwork have focused on post-conflict justice and human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, India, and the United States.

Randi holds an M.A. from Columbia University and a B.A. from the University of Minnesota.

Email: [email protected]

Heidi Guerrero

SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR & CLERY DIRECTOR

Heidy Guerrero has been with Cal State LA since 2016, advancing from administrative analyst to Financial Operations Manager, Assistant Director for Budget and Compliance, and now Senior Administrator and Clery Director. In her current role, she leads administrative operations for the VPAF team and oversees campus compliance with the Clery Act, coordinating across the university to implement federal, state, CSU, and campus policies. She is committed to fostering a safe, secure environment grounded in collaboration and trust. Heidy Guerrero holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University, a master’s in Business Administration from Argosy University, and a certificate in Advanced Professional Development for Assistive Technology Applications from CSU Northridge.

Email: [email protected]

Lorraine Sturdevant

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Lorraine Sturdevant serves as a Research Associate at the Institute. She has over five years of experience conducting mixed-methods research and program evaluation spanning youth development, workforce development, and economic security, with additional project experience in early education, health and aging policy, and guaranteed income evaluations across local, state, and national contexts, and with government, nonprofit, and philanthropic clients. Lorraine has also served as a Policy Consultant for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, where she conducted research on public sector effectiveness in advancing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Merced.

Claudia Villalona

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Claudia is a Research Consultant at the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, where she conducts policy research through an equity lens to promote social justice and civic engagement in Southern California. Her fieldwork and interdisciplinary research focus on human rights, governance, and accountability. Previously, she investigated the use of torture by U.S. officials in Iraq for Human Rights Watch, and interviewed recently arrived asylum seekers in NYC for Columbia University's Migrant Stories Project. She has covered immigration for local and national publications as an independent journalist, and has a background in international development, having led a Sustainable Development Goals accountability reporting initiative for a United Nations advocacy organization. Claudia holds an M.A. from Columbia University in Human Rights and Technology, Media & Communications, and a B.A. from Brown University in International Relations.

Julie Hernandez

COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Julie is a recent graduate of Cal State LA, where she earned a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration. She has extensive experience in community engagement and civic advocacy, including tenant rights organizing, documenting with The LA Local Documenters, supporting campaigns for elected officials, and collaborating with grassroots organizations that promote civic education in South Central. She is particularly interested in local government and public policy, with a focus on city and county processes, and has tracked major initiatives such as the Los Angeles City Charter Reform Process and the Los Angeles County Measure G Commission. A member of the inaugural Angeleno Corps cohort, Julie also served as a tutor with the Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) program during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Through her work, Julie remains dedicated to advancing civic participation, government accountability, and community empowerment across Los Angeles.

Chris Mapps

STUDENT ASSISTANT

Chris is a student assistant at the Institute and is currently pursuing his B.A. in Political Science with aspirations of becoming a criminal defense attorney. He is dedicated to advocating for justice, supporting underserved communities, and expanding access to legal resources for those who need it most. His commitment to law and public service began early, shaped by a deep interest in fairness, community, and meaningful change

In his free time, Chris likes unwinding with video games, getting lost in good books, and discovering new music. He’s big on trying different foods, whether it’s grabbing something new with friends or finding a spot that becomes a regular. He also loves to travel whenever he gets the chance, always looking for new places, new people, and new experiences.

Lizette Roman

COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT

Lizette Roman serves as a Communications Consultant for the Institute, where she leads projects that strengthen the organization’s public presence and deepen community engagement. Her work includes capturing content at community events, producing and editing educational videos, developing social media strategies that make civic information more accessible, and contributing to the Institute’s website redesign. One of her favorite projects has been producing the LA Mayor’s Race 101 video series with Executive Director Mike Bonin, along with supporting the Institute’s On the Record event series.

Lizette is a proud Cal State LA alumna, Class of 2025, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and Public Relations. During her time at the university, she worked as a student assistant for the Institute and developed a strong commitment to helping communities, especially young people, understand how government works and how they can get involved.

Lizette is now pursuing a Master of Public Administration at the University of Southern California, where she serves as the Executive Director of Public Relations for the USC Price Latinx Student Association.