Category Archives: New Member

Retired-Point Loma Nazarene University

Karen is a retired Art Education Professor and Chair Emeritus of the Department of Art and Design for Point Loma Nazarene University.

Karen was born on an emergency room gurney in the hallway while her dad was parking the car, and she’s been in a hurry ever since. She used her timeliness well while teaching art and design at the college level for over forty years. During that time she served on an array of local, state and national boards including 20-years of service on the Art Advisory Panel for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing which was responsible for writing CTC State Standards, approving art education programs across the state of California, and producing standardized tests for the discipline. Outside of the collegiate scope, Karen has taught art to children experiencing homelessness at the St. Vincent de Paul Center and San Diego County schools for eight years, and she sings in the La Jolla Presbyterian Church Choir.

She has a Ph. D. in Art Education from the University of Oregon and interned at the Planning Department after completing her graduate studies. The joy of giving to the health and well-being of San Diego neighborhoods has contributed to content in her visual arts and across her career.

Karen thanks her sponsors Goldie Sinegal, Roger Haines and Walter Lam.

Marketing-Digital

As the Founder and CEO of Wayward Kind, a digital and marketing collective and certified B Corporation, Jules Taggart strives to bring greater visibility to the work of purpose driven organizations that are designing a more just future. She is a human-centered marketing strategist, fraction CMO and educator. She believes that even as we rely more heavily on digital platforms for storytelling, organizing and uprising, meaningful human connection is still the most effective tool for liberation. One of the ways she measures the impact of her work is by championing the work of organizations that are making significant contributions in race, class and gender equity.

Jules grew up in Minnesota, left for college then grad school in Missouri, followed by a move to San Diego with her now husband. They have two children and are active participants in all things San Diego. Many of us remember Jules as she was a member of San Diego Rotary for a over a year before both the pandemic and a personal tragedy altered her plans. She put her membership on hold for awhile, but is now ready to get back into action. She would like to spot opportunities to help and step in where needed, looking first at the DEI, City Heights Rotaract and Cesar Chavez Readers committees.

Jules thanks her sponsors David Oates and Denise Scatena.

Military Service – US Navy – Additional Active

Ryan Dunn is a Commander in the US Navy and is an aviator. He has served over 26 years as a Naval Officer and helicopter pilot, currently serving as the Director of Aviation Training at Afloat Training Group San Diego. He is a Naval Academy graduate as well as the University of San Diego where he earned a Master’s of Science in Global Leadership. His certificates include Master Training Specialist and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Ryan has spent all 27 years, with the exception of a short tour in England with NATO, stationed here, and deploying from San Diego.

Ryan has volunteered for many organizations such as the Ironman Discipleship Program at Rock Church, the Master’s Program as a youth basketball coach, a baseball coach for Carmel Valley Little League, a school volunteer for Carmel Del Mar Elementary, and, as a cafeteria worker for Saint Vincent de Paul Parish homeless shelter.  He would like to continue his volunteer outreach through the San Diego Rotary committees by joining the Four Way Speech Contest, Interact programs, Senior Services and Military Affairs.

He and his wife Christa have two children, Sophie and Alistair. The family is very active in all things outdoors, from running, swimming and golfing, to biking, hiking and weightlifting. Ryan credits his healthy culinary abilities by self-titling “Smoothie King.”

His sponsors are Julie Roland, Wendy Urushima-Conn and Rodger Dougherty

Associations – Jewish Family Services

Kea Spurrier is the Chief Advancement Officer of Jewish Family Services, a human service agency that serves more than 80,000 San Diegans annually—regardless of religion, ability, race or identity. Prior to that, she worked at San Diego Zoo Global, also in development. She is currently the Chapter President of the Association for Fundraising Professionals. Kea has done volunteer work with Words Alive!, Dreams for Change, Wild Coast, San Diego Foundation, La Jolla Elementary and La Jolla High School; and, she is excited to continue to serve her community in a volunteer capacity through San Diego Rotary.

Kea is a San Diego native and a graduate of University of California San Diego, where she received a scholarship from Rotary to attend; as well as alumna of University of San Diego, where she received her master’s in leadership and nonprofit management. She is the mother of two boys, and and is an extensive traveler and an avid road cyclist.

Kea thanks her sponsors Wendy Urushima-Conn, Valerie Attisha, and Patti Roscoe.

Associations – Alzheimer’s Association

Janet Hamada Kelley is the Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association of the San Diego and Imperial Chapter. She has worked in the voluntary health care space for ten years serving at several different organizations such as the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, in both a local and national capacity. Prior to her nonprofit work she owned two businesses: a consulting firm and a clothing boutique.

She is passionate about supporting women of color in leadership positions. She is currently a fellow in the Asian Pacific American Women Leadership Institute and is a member of Compassion Circle.

Janet was born and raised in Orange County, but after attending University of California San Diego, she put roots down here. She and her husband Justin have a four-year-old daughter who she loves to plan parties for in her off-time. She is interested in pursuing service for the Senior Services Committee, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and Membership Development.

Her sponsors are David Oates, Trevor Blair and Allison Whitney.