Board of Directors

The Voces y Manos Board of Directors charts a course of action that will lead to the full realization of our mission and vision through action firmly rooted in our core values.  With far-reaching expertise in health and education, the dedicated members of our BOD are central to achieving Voces y Manos’ mission of addressing poverty and poor health at their root.

Meet our Board here!

Jeffery Brand

Jeffrey S. Brand

Dean of the USF School of Law, Chairman of the Center for Law and Global Justice

Jeffrey S. Brand is the 17th dean of the USF School of Law. Brand received his AB from UC Berkeley in 1966 and his JD from UC Berkeley School of Law in 1969. He joined the USF faculty in 1986 and was named dean in 1999. His scholarly and professional work has focused on human... Read More

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Dr. Howard Taras

Professor of Community Pediatrics at UCSD, Expert in school and community-based health programs

Dr. Howard Taras is a professor of pediatrics at the University of California-San Diego, where he specializes in School Health and Community Engagement with Academia. Taras is a contracted medical consultant to school districts across California. He assists with decisions... Read More

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Michael Bakal

Executive Committee member, Chair of the Development and Youth Empowerment Committees

Michael Bakal first travelled to Rabinal in 2007 as a volunteer with the American Jewish World Service.  The opportunity to work with and learn from the students, teachers, and staff of Fundación Nueva Esperanza was a transformational experience for him, so much so that it... Read More

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Joshua Hoerger

Executive Committee member, Chair of the Finances Committee

Joshua Hoerger joined Voces y Manos in 2009 after spending a summer living and working with the people of Rabinal. The nine weeks in Rabinal impressed upon him the challenges and health risks faced by people who lack access to basic amenities or education. In 2011, Josh returned... Read More

Jessica Nicholas

Jessica Nicholas

Executive Committee member, Chair of the Higher Education and Operations Committees

Jessica Nicholas began working with Voces y Manos in January 2008 as a grant project with Michael Bakal. Along with Michael and Amy Yam, they co-founded the organization later that year. During her time at UCSD, she also held various positions at the Department of Community... Read More

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Amy Yam

Executive Committee member, chair of the Health Projects Committee

Amy Yam’s history with Voces y Manos began in 2008 as an undergraduate student at the University of California, San Diego. Her previous volunteer work in Honduras, combined with her interest in health, drew her to classmates Michael Bakal and Jessica Nicholas to form the... Read More

Dr. Bronwen Anders

Dr. Bronwen Anders

Clinical professor of pediatrics at UCSD, International Child Health expert

Dr. Bronwen Anders is clinical professor of pediatrics at UCSD. She has been national Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics CATCH program. She is the past president of the San Diego chapter of AAP (AAP CA-3). She is currently on the executive board of the AAP section on... Read More

Linda Walsh

Dr. Linda Walsh

Professor Emeritus at the USF School of Nursing

Linda V. Walsh is a certified nurse midwife and Professor Emeritus at the University of San Francisco. She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Connecticut, her Master of Public Health and Midwifery education at the Johns Hopkins University School of... Read More

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Daniel Ezroj

Executive Committee member

  Daniel Ezroj first visited Guatemala in 2003. He was 18 at the time and the diversity of the country and the kindness of its people instilled a deep desire to return. After completing a B.A. in United States History at U.C.S.Din 2009, Daniel spent the following summer... Read More