Instructor and Staff Biographies

Instructors:

Marie De Santis

Marie De Santis is a Sonoma County advocate and activist who has worked for the last fifteen years to stop violence against women, particularly in the Latina and other under served communities of Sonoma County. De Santis is the founder and current director of Women's Justice Center/Centro de Justicia para Mujeres. The independent organization serves victims of rape, domestic violence, and child abuse free of charge. Through grassroots activism, the organization also vigorously advocates for improving the criminal justice system response to violence against women. De Santis also coordinates the Task Force on Women in Policing with the goal of increasing the number of women and minorities in local law enforcement agencies. In September, 2000, De Santis and Women's Justice Center launched the first fully bilingual (Spanish) web site on violence against women at justicewomen.com.

Karen Leonard

Karen Leonard has spent the last fifteen years as a death rites activist and lobbyist on behalf of California consumers. She was the researcher for the book, The American Way of Death Revisited and for the American Association of Retired Person (AARP). She developed both a funerary art gallery and a nonprofit organization and has appeared on television (60 Minutes and 20/20), radio shows and has been featured in newspaper and magazine articles. She is a founding member of The Mitford Institute and currently serves as the Project Director.

Susan Prather

Susan Prather is widely recognized for her meaningful contributions to the quality of life in Contra Costa County by virtue of her endless support for the personal and social growth of others, especially the homeless, the elderly, and those unable to obtain health services. Since 1999, Susan has been the Executive Director of Fresh Start, an organization that serves those among the working poor and homeless and those at risk of homelessness. This unique organization was facilitated by the City of Walnut Creek until mid-2002, which is when Fresh Start became a private non-profit. Fresh Start is a highly lauded organization, commenced, developed, and managed by Susan, who is the only paid staff.

Dan Rohling

CFSP - Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer (California and Idaho). Certified crematory operator in California. Former Inspector/Investigator for the California State Cemetery Board, Mortuary Officer for the Federal Government (DMORT). Six tours at the World Trade Center disaster. Member: Funeral Ethics Association (Ombudsman), International Cemetery and Funeral Association, Academy of Successful Funeral Service Practice.

Staff:

Steve Rubin

Steve Rubin has been teaching computer classes at City College of San Francisco since 1980, specializing in Web development for the past ten years. He has been teaching Critical Thinking classes at Santa Rosa Junior College since 1989. He has created several Web Sites as an independent Web developer and is the Web developer for the Mitford Institute.

Ronda Smith

Ronda Smith was one of the original owners of Ghia Gallery of San Francisco. The gallery, a death art and information center, received national and international recognition - featured in numerous notable publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Esquire, the San Francisco Examiner/Chronicle, and the Oakland Tribune as well as on television and radio both here and abroad. Currently she teaches Real Estate courses at City College of San Francisco. She is a founding member of The Mitford Institute.