Who We Are

The CDCR/CCHCS Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) Steering Committee began in 2018 as an internal commitment to identify and address institutional inequities affecting our workforce. Our committee is composed of a diverse group of employees within our department with various backgrounds and experiences. All committee members are dedicated to achieving race and gender equity to advance opportunities for all.

GARE Steering Committee

**Sarina J. Calderon**
Associate Director
Office of Civil Rights

**Rosanna Rodriguez**
Staff Services Manager II
POSED – Office of Peace Officer Selection

**Kevin Grassel**
IT Specialist II
Office of Research

**Jaron Nash**
Chief Executive Officer
Avenal State Prison

**Preetika Nand-Lal**
Attorney IV
CCHCS Office of Legal Affairs

**Amber Williams**
Associate Warden
Avenal State Prison

**Elizabeth Sherrell-Davis**
Staff Services Manager I
Office of Training and Professional Development

**Bridget Kennedy**
Staff Services Manager I
Human Resources

**Natalie Miller**
Staff Services Manager III
Human Resources

**Raquel Perez**
Staff Services Manager II, CCHCS Human Resources

**Connie Gipson**
Director
Division of Adult Institutions

Michelle Lagune — **Michelle Laguna**
GARE Coordinator/Graduate Student Assistant
Office of Civil Rights

**Shannon Swain**
Superintendent
Correctional Education

**Emma Regidor**
EEO Attorney III
Office of Legal Affairs

**Eric Joe**
Ombudsman
Office of the Ombudsman

**Patrice Davis**
Associate Warden
Division of Adult Institutions

**Arti Parmar**
Parole Administrator (A)
Division of Adult Parole Operations

**Fergus Leckie**
Correctional Captain
Office of Internal Affairs

**Kori Salas**
Attorney III
Office of Legal Affairs

Sarina J. Calderon, Associate Director, Office of Internal Affairs – Office of Civil Rights
Rosanna Rodriguez, Staff Services Manager II, POSED – Office of Peace Officer Selection
Preetika Nand-Lal, Attorney IV, CCHCS – Office of Legal Affairs
Fergus Leckie, Correctional Captain, OIA – Allegation Inquiry Management System
Elizabeth Sherrell-Davis, Staff Services Manager I, POSED – OTPD
Shannon Swain, Superintendent, Office of Correctional Education
Jaron Nash, Chief Executive Officer, CCHCS – Avenal State Prison
Emma Regidor, EEO Attorney III, Office of Legal Affairs
Kevin Grassel, Information Technology Specialist II, Office of Research
Patrice Davis, Association Warden, Division of Adult Institutions – Headquarters
Michelle Laguna, GARE Coordinator/Graduate Student Assistant, OIA, Office of Civil Rights
Thy Vuong, Special Assistant to Undersecretary of Health Care Services, Office of the Secretary
Eric Joe, Ombudsman, Office of the Ombudsman
Arti Parmar, Parole Administrator I, Division of Adult Parole Operations – Headquarters
Amber Williams, Chief Deputy Warden (A), North Kern State Prison
Natalie Miller, SSMIII, Human Resources, Talent Acquisition and Career Services
Kori Salas, Attorney III, Office of Legal Affairs
Bridget Kennedy, Staff Services Manager I, Human Resources
Gabby Holmes, Graduate Student Assistant – Office of Civil Rights
Thao Nguyen, Graduate Student Assistant – Office of Civil Rights
Taylor Knowles, Seasonal Clerk – Office of Civil Rights
Iainnardo Black, Correctional Captain – Calipatria State Prison
Heather Duarte, Community Resources Manager, Correctional Institution – Calipatria State Prison
Andrew Robertson, Staff Services Manager III, Division of Adult Parole Operations – Headquarters

Eleven people stand in front of the CDCR Headquarters building — From left: Emma Regidor, Attorney III, Sarina J. Calderon, Associate Director, Pretika Nand-Lal, Attorney IV, Eric Joe, Ombudsman, Amber Williams, Associate Warden, Kevin Grassel, IT Specialist II, Olivia Briones, Regional Personnel Administrator, Elizabeth Sherrell-Davis, Staff Services Manager I, Rosanna Rodriguez, Staff Services Manager II, Connie Gipson, Director, Michelle Laguna, AGPA (photo taken August 17, 2022 and does not reflect current committee membership)