Lumina Alliance is thrilled to welcome four new members and one returning member to its Board of Directors
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Lumina Alliance is happy to announce the inauguration of its four newest and one returning board members. The Lumina Alliance Board of Directors guides policy and oversees Lumina Alliance’s work of serving survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence in San Luis Obispo County. Lumina Alliance’s Board aims to be a diverse representation of the San Luis Obispo community and strives to include members from a wide variety of backgrounds and vocations. The newest additions to the Lumina Alliance Board of Directors are:
Ruby Balcazar
Ruby V. Balcazar is a seasoned psychotherapist and passionate advocate for mental health, bringing a wealth of experience to her practice. She pursued her graduate education at Chapman University, earning a Master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy. Notably, she has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Massachusetts, contributing to the education and development of future mental health professionals. Ruby also served as a bilingual therapist at previous iterations of Lumina Alliance (the Women’s Shelter and Stand Strong) for close to two years. Drawing from her personal experiences as a survivor, Ruby holds a profound commitment to combating intimate partner violence in our community.
Ron Vyse
Ron Vyse is a Private Wealth Advisor with the 408 Group at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. With offices in San Jose and Santa Barbara, Ron and his team work with a select group of exceptionally affluent wealth creators and their families to manage, grow, and transition their wealth while preserving family harmony. Prior to relocating to the Central Coast, Ron was a longtime supporter of Shepherd’s Gate, a nonprofit supporting women and children who have experienced trauma in Livermore, California.
Emilie de la Motte
Emilie de la Motte is a San Luis Obispo native; in late 2019, she returned to the Central Coast after living many years in Davis, San Francisco, and abroad. Emilie is also a former client of Lumina Alliance; she is so grateful that Lumina’s staff supported her during her time of crisis just a few years ago. In 2024, she joined the law firm of Carmel & Naccasha as a partner. She also serves on the board of directors for the SLO Women’s Lawyer Association. In addition, Emilie works part-time as a legal writing lecturer for the SLO School of Law.
Randy Gray
Randy Gray, Community Project Manager at Must! Charities, leverages extensive experience in orchestrating and guiding collaborative teams to enhance strategic investments with nonprofits across San Luis Obispo County. Earning a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration, Randy has honed a robust skill set encompassing effective communication, team dynamics, time management, strategic planning, and risk mitigation. With over 24 years as an educator prior to joining Must!, Randy specialized in crafting and tailoring science curricula while leading grade-level teams. Rooted in a commitment to collaboration and innovation, these qualities continue to drive Randy’s impactful work today.
Debby Nicklas
After a career spanning 40 years in marketing, public relations, and philanthropy, Debby recently retired as the Chief Philanthropy Officer for Lumina Alliance. Before that, she served as the Vice President of Philanthropy at French Hospital for 18 years. In 2017, Debby joined the RISE Board and served as Board Chair from 2018 to 2021. Debby is excited to be rejoining the Lumina Alliance Board. Since arriving in San Luis Obispo in 1994, Debby has been an active volunteer in our community serving on many non-profit boards, including serving as Chair of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. In 2002, she received the prestigious Citizen of the Year award from the SLO Chamber.
If you are interested in learning more about the Lumina Alliance Board of Directors please visit LuminaAlliance.org/staff-board
ABOUT LUMINA ALLIANCE — Lumina Alliance is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization created by the merging of RISE and Stand Strong in July 2021. Their mission is to empower those impacted by sexual and intimate partner violence through innovative advocacy, healing, and prevention programs. Services include 24/7 crisis and information line, case management, accompaniment and advocacy, emergency shelters, transitional housing, individual and group therapy, and robust prevention education. For more information, please visit www.LuminaAlliance.org