Meet our Board of Trustees
Présentation de notre conseil d’administration
The International School of Los Angeles’s Board of Trustees is the governing body of the School pursuant to the California Corporation Code. It exercises ultimate control over all aspects of the School, providing strategic vision and fiduciary oversight. The trustees approve the budget, plan school growth, and set objectives to assure adherence to the school’s mission and to maintain its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. It is also responsible for administering our school’s financial aid program. The Board of Trustees meets every month during the school year, with additional meetings scheduled on an as-needed basis. Members include strategically involved parents, seasoned educators, and a neighborhood representative. The Board members are appointed for specific terms, at the end of which these may be renewed with Board consensus. Board members volunteer their time and do not receive any compensation – financial or otherwise – for any aspect of the Board’s activities. Below is a list of our current Board members:
Iain Whyte
Chairman of the Board
Trustee, 2011 to present (expires 2021) Current employment: Chairman, Managing Partner, Pasadena Private Wealth (2018 to present); Previous employment: Managing Director, Merrill Lynch & Co. (2002-2018), Vice-President, Business Development Officer, Wells Fargo, NA (2001-2002), Group Manager, Leverage Finance Natexis Banque–BFCE (1992-2000); Education: Master’s in Theoretical Economics: University of Nice, France (1989), Master’s in Business Administration: University of Texas at Austin (1991); Affiliations: Certified Investment Management Analyst, University of California at Berkeley (2007). International School of Los Angeles parent since 2003.
Yvonne Alvardo
Vice Chair
Trustee, 2017 to present (expires 2021); Previous Employment: Attorney, Bragg & Kuluva (2005); Attorney, Lerman, Pointer & Clarkson (2003-2005); Attorney, Riley & Reiner (1997-2003); Education: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) (1993); Juris Doctor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law (1997); Affiliations: Member, State Bar of California; Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association. Languages: English, Spanish, knowledge of French. International School of Los Angeles parent since 2010.
Jean-Luc De Fanti
Treasurer
Trustee, 2016 to present (expires 2020), Chair of the Finance Committee; Current employment: Managing Partner, Rhea Films (2015 to present) and Co-Managing Partner, Hemisphere Media Capital (2010 to present); Previous employment: Founder and Managing Partner, Winchester Capital Management (2007-2011); Consultant, Content Financing, Ziffren Brittenham LLP (2000-2007); Partner, Caldera/De Fanti Entertainment (1998-2006); Production Executive, Columbia Pictures (1995-1996); Director of Motion Picture Finance, Sony Pictures Entertainment (1993-1995); CEO, Spot Imaging Services Pty. Ltd., Sydney, Australia (1988-1991); Education: MBA, Harvard Business School (1993), S.M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1986), Diplôme d’Ingénieur, Ecole Supérieure d’Electricité, Gif-sur-Yvette, France (1986). International School of Los Angeles Parent since 2012.
Marionne Epalle
Secretary
Trustee, 2017 to present (expires 2018); Current employment: Division Administrator, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (2009 to present); Previous employment: Communications Director and Development Liaison, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, Caltech (1999-2009); Lecturer in Engineering (technical writing), Caltech, (2003-2006); previous, positions at Caltech, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Bennington College; Education: Bachelor of Arts: New School for Social Research (1983). International School of Los Angeles parent since 2007.
Cécile Chalifour
Trustee, 2016 to present (expires 2020); Current employment: Director, California Region, Low Income Investment Fund; Previous employment: Director, Citibank (2006-2010); Senior Program Director, Enterprise Community Partners (2005-2006); Senior Project Manager, Skid Row Housing Trust (2002-2005); Senior Project Manager, Many Mansions (2000-2002); Lead Consultant, CiteMetrie (1996-1999); Education: Masters of Arts in Legal Studies, Territorial Law and Urban Management, with honors, University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, France (1995); Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies (Public Law), with honors, University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, France (1994); Diploma in Real Estate Business Studies, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM) Paris, France (1996); Affiliations: Member of the boards of the Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing and the California Coalition for Rural Housing. International School of Los Angeles parent since 2009.
Susan Jensen Debonne
Trustee, 2012 to present (expires 2019); Current employment: Manager, Private Art Collection, Los Angeles and Malibu; Previous employment: Curatorial Associate, Pomona College Museum of Art (2011 to 2014); Gagosian Gallery (1996-2000), Christie’s, New York, (1990-1993); Education: Bachelor’s in Fine Arts – Art History and Interior Design: University of Georgia at Athens (1984). International School of Los Angeles parent since 2006.
Marc Gareton
Trustee, 2019 to present (expires 2020); Current employment: Executive Vice President, International Productions, Warner Bros. (2016 to present); Previous employment: Executive VP, International Home Entertainment, Warner Bros. (2009-2016); Various international management roles, Warner Bros. (1995-2009), Brand Manager, Moulinex (1989-1995); Education: Master of Sciences – Business Administration NEOMA France (1989); Affiliations: Member of the Board, Natierra’s Angels philanthropy. International School of Los Angeles parent from 2002-2017.
Sharyn Kerr
Trustee, 2018 to present (expires 2019); Current employment: COO, Blue Sprig Pediatrics (2018 to present); Previous employment: Comprehensive Educational Services (2003-2018); Education: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: University of Western Australia (1998); Master of Arts in Psychology: University of Western Australia (2000); Diploma in Education: University of Western Australia (2000); PhD in Psychology: University of Western Australia (2006); Board Certified Behavior Analyst Certification: University of Massachusetts (2007); MBA: Washington State University (2017); Affiliations: Licensed Psychologist, State of California; Member, Behavior Analysts Certification Board. International School of Los Angeles parent since 2011.
Chantal M. Mariotti
Trustee, 2014 to present (expires 2018); Current employment: Founder/Principal, Executive HR Consulting Group (2003 to present); Previous employment: Regional Director of HR, Biltmore Hotel (1999-2003); Director of HR, Hyatt Regency Los Angeles, Hyatt West Hollywood and Park Hyatt Los Angeles (1990-1999); Director of HR, Registry Hotel Corporation (1987-1990); Employment Manager and Corporate Director of HR L’Ermitage Hotel Group (1985-1987); Education: Graduate of Institute Chateaubriand, Cannes, France. Affiliations: Active member of the California Chamber of Commerce, The Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), Professionals in Human Resources (PIRA), and The Burbank Chamber of Commerce. French-American human resources professional and active Burbank community member.
Camille Rizko
Trustee, 2015 to present (expires 2019); Current activity: Retired; Previous employment: VP of Cinema Products, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (2014-2017); Founder and CEO of Doremi Labs, Inc. (1985-2014); Project manager, Schlumberger Instruments (1981-1983); Education: MBA, UCLA School of Management, M.Sc., Engineering, Ecole Supérieure d’Electricité, Gif sur Yvette, France. International School of Los Angeles parent since 2004.
Irina Sardaryan
Trustee, 2018 to present (expires 2019); Current employment: Manager, Rogers Benefit Group (1999-Present). Education: Juris Doctorate, Southwestern University School of Law (2005). Affiliations: Attorney, State Bar of California. International School of Los Angeles parent since 2013.
Françoise Sorgen-Goldschmidt
Trustee, 2014 to present (expires 2018); Current activity: Emerita from University of California Berkeley’s French Department (Advanced Language, Translation, Phonetics and Listening Comprehension, French for Politics, Economics and Business). Previous employment: Study Center Director for Lyon and Grenoble campuses of the University of California; Chair of UC Berkeley’s International Education Committee and member of State-wide University of California’s International Education Committee; Interviewer for Berkeley’s Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarships; Former member of Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley’s Board of Trustees (Chair of Academic Committee, and Organization and Governance Committee). International School of Los Angeles grandparent since 2010.
John D. Mickus
Trustee Emeritus; Co-founder
Trustee Emeritus (2008 to present); Trustee 1978 to 2008; Current employment: Law Offices of J.D. Mickus, principal (1982 to present); Education: Bachelor’s: CSU-Northridge (1968), Master’s: UCLA (1970), JD: Loyola (1975). Former International School of Los Angeles parent. Co-founder of the International School of Los Angeles.
Adam Weisman, Ph.D.
Trustee Emeritus
Trustee Emeritus (2015 to present); Trustee, 1998 to 2015 (former Chairman of the Board and Chair of Financial Aid Committee); Current employment: County of Los Angeles-Chief Executive Office, Risk Management Branch/Psychological Services Unit; Other professional activities: USC Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (1992 to present), mental health consultant to federal, state & local legal system, licensed psychologist: California, Michigan & Washington State (retired active); Education: Bachelor of Arts (Drama) and Sciences (Psychology): University of Washington-Seattle (1982), Master of Arts (Psychology): Kent State University (1987), Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology: Kent State University (1991); Affiliations: Psi Upsilon International Fraternity, American Academy of Forensic Sciences.