The U-M Club of Greater San Francisco is supported by a group of dedicated volunteers who serve as our Board of Directors. Our Board meets every two months – virtually or over beers and tacos at Underdogs Cantina – and plans all of our events and campaigns throughout the year. While we have historically been very San Francisco-focused, we are making a concerted effort to extend our programming in the East and North Bays in 2025. Our Board Members come from a variety of backgrounds but all share an unwavering loyalty to the Maize and Blue. We hope to meet you soon at an upcoming event.
Meet our current Board Members!
Jackie Miller – President
Jackie graduated from Michigan with a B.A. in 2015. She majored in Communications and double minored in Spanish and Science, Technology, Medicine, and Society. She joined the San Francisco Club as a Board member in 2017 and currently serves as the President of the chapter. While completing her undergraduate degree, Jackie wrote for the health, science, and hospital beat at the Michigan Daily, served in a leadership role with the Pre-Public Health Association, participated as a member of the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, and worked at the U-M Transportation Research Institute. Jackie moved to San Francisco in 2016 and works at UCSF conducting health policy research. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the city, eating good food, hiking, reading, and traveling.
Thomas Kilavos – Vice President
Tom obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan in Mechanical Engineering. He joined the San Francisco Club as a board member in 2017 and currently serves as the Vice President of the chapter. After graduation he stayed in Michigan and worked in the automotive industry for Johnson Controls, Inc. Although he always enjoyed living in Michigan, an opportunity came about to move to the Bay Area. He took the chance and transitioned into the medical device field working for a small company focused on heart failure. Tom enjoys all the benefits of the Bay Area including trying new restaurants, seeing live shows, wine tasting, snowboarding, traveling, mentoring, and volunteering. He continues to support all the Michigan sports teams, especially football, basketball, and hockey. Go Blue!
Cathy Robart – Treasurer
Cathy Robart graduated with a B.A. in psychology in 2002. Growing up near Grand Rapids, MI, she holds the Midwest near and dear to her heart and still pines for Vernors every time she feels under the weather. After serving two years as an AmeriCorps volunteer in the Pacific Northwest, Cathy obtained her MBA. She worked in Portland, Oregon while volunteering for causes ranging from animal welfare to civil service to women in education. Cathy now lives the East Bay of California and serves as the treasurer of the UM Alumni Club of Greater San Francisco.
Jennifer (Bock) Cheshire – Secretary & Communications / Immediate Past President
Jennifer graduated from the University of Michigan College of LSA in 2015, double majoring in Communication Studies and Screen Arts & Cultures. After graduating, she moved to the SF Bay Area for a career in marketing and became the Young Alumni Chair of the UM Alumni Club of SF, then the President from 2017-2020, and now the Communications Chair sending out the weekly newsletter. Jennifer enjoys wine tasting and walks with her dog and family. Some of her favorite memories from Michigan are tailgating and exploring Ann Arbor.
Max Brawer – Programming Chair
Max graduated from the University of Michigan in 2017 with a BA in International Studies (Political Economy & Development). One of his favorite memories from Ann Arbor is watching snow games in the Big House, especially during the early days of the Harbaugh era. Since graduating, he has worked at Coinbase and is currently a Senior Manager on the Security team. In the Bay Area, he loves to hike through the redwoods and along the coast of Marin Country.
David Lee – Programming Chair, North Bay
David graduated from the University of Michigan Graduate School of Business with an MBA in 1984. He is recently retired after serving as Chief Marketing Officer for financial technology company Envestnet Yodlee. A few of David’s favorite Michigan memories include attending the tide-shifting 2021 victory over OSU in the Big House with his wife (MBA ’84) and daughter (BA ’14), the 2023 national football championship in Houston, and the 1997 national football championship at the Rose Bowl. An avid mountain biker, David can often be found cycling in the hills of Marin County.
Irene Wong – Programming Chair, East Bay
Irene obtained her Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan School of Public Health in 2005 and currently works for a health tech start-up promoting patient navigation. A California native, Irene has called the Bay Area home for nearly 20 years and loves taking advantage of the vast cultural and geographic diversity of this area, including wine-tasting and year-round hiking in the Redwoods. Her most recent favorite Michigan memory is cheering the Wolverines on to victory at the Rose Bowl in 2024.
Jeanne HuangLi – Scholarship Awards Chair
And Perhaps You…?
We’re always looking to expand our Board and increase our engagement with Bay Area alumni. In general, we’re looking for local alums who are…
- Interested in meeting, engaging and working with a diverse group of local Michigan alumni;
- Interested in planning, coordinating and attending local events;
- Interested in helping us get the word out to other alumni in the area and promote our events;
- Has capacity on evenings and/or weekends to plan and/or support Club events;
- Would like to continue to build ties with The University of Michigan and give back to the greater U of M community.
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