Board of Directors guides policy and oversees Lumina Alliance’s work of serving survivors

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Lumina Alliance has announced the inauguration of its four newest board members and one returning one. 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 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. Balcazar 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, Balcazar holds a profound commitment to combating intimate partner violence in our community.

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, Vyse 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, Vyse was a longtime supporter of Shepherd’s Gate, a nonprofit supporting women and children who have experienced trauma in Livermore.

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. de la Motte 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, de la Motte works part-time as a legal writing lecturer for the SLO School of Law.

Randy Gray, is the 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, Gray 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!, Gray 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 Gray’s impactful work today.

After a career spanning 40 years in marketing, public relations, and philanthropy, Debby Nicklas 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, Nicklas joined the RISE Board and served as board chair from 2018 to 2021. Nicklas is excited to be rejoining the Lumina Alliance Board. Since arriving in San Luis Obispo in 1994, Nicklas has been an active volunteer in our community serving on many nonprofit 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 nonprofit 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, visit LuminaAlliance.org.

Feature Image provided by Lumina Alliance