MPPA Events

Jamshid Damooei is a Professor of Economics at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California, where he has taught and conducted research since 1987. With nearly four decades of experience in higher education, his work focuses on economic policy, social and economic inequality, labor markets, and regional economic development. Damooei frequently contributes public commentary and research on issues such as housing affordability, immigration’s economic impact, and the societal implications of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. He is also affiliated with the Center for Economics of Social Issues at California Lutheran University and is recognized for connecting economic analysis with real-world social and policy challenges affecting communities in California and beyond.

Fabiola A. Lara is a global early childhood development and education (ECDE) expert and the Founder and Principal Consultant of EquaNurture, a technical advisory firm focused on improving outcomes for children and families through equity-centered, science-based approaches. Based in the Los Angeles area, she brings extensive experience working across humanitarian and development contexts in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Her work focuses on early childhood education, child protection, gender equity, and family wellbeing, with expertise in curriculum development, program design, research, and national education planning. Previously, she held leadership roles with Save the Children and contributed to research and policy initiatives with organizations such as the Brookings Institution and UNICEF. A multilingual professional fluent in English, Spanish, and French, Lara collaborates with governments, NGOs, and global institutions to strengthen early childhood systems and advance evidence-based policies that support children, caregivers, and communities worldwide.

Eric Griego Montoya, PhD, is a Professor of Practice at the University of New Mexico’s School of Public Administration, as well as a strategic consultant, policy strategist, and applied researcher focused on economic development, public policy, and social equity. With experience spanning academia, government, and nonprofit leadership, he has served as a local and state elected official, a senior economic development official under New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and Associate Chief of Staff for Policy in the Office of Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. Griego has led major initiatives addressing poverty, early childhood investment, labor policy, and community economic development, including efforts to increase the minimum wage and expand paid sick leave. A Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Barcelona, he also co-founded several community and economic development initiatives and organizations dedicated to building more equitable and sustainable local economies.

Khodr Zaarour, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of International Relations and Security Studies at North Carolina State University, specializing in Middle East politics, American foreign policy, international security, diplomacy and geopolitics, terrorism, and strategic miscalculations. Born in Lebanon and raised in Pennsylvania, he brings two decades of teaching experience across institutions including North Carolina Central University, Shaw University, Virginia Tech, and Hampton University. His academic background includes degrees from Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh, and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. Zaarour’s work blends applied research and data-driven analysis—using tools like Stata and SQL—with a strong commitment to public engagement, often contributing to community dialogue and media discussions on conflict and regional security dynamics in the Greater Middle East.

Pam Kessler is the Co-President and Co-CEO of LTC Properties, Inc. (NYSE: LTC), a real estate investment trust focused on seniors housing and healthcare properties. Based in Westlake Village, California, she has spent more than two decades with the company, previously serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and later as Co-President and CFO. Kessler brings extensive experience in financial leadership, corporate reporting, and real estate investment, having held earlier roles at The Ezralow Company, Irvine Apartment Communities, KB Home, and Ernst & Young. Throughout her career, she has played a key role in shaping LTC’s financial strategy and long-term growth in the healthcare real estate sector.

Dr. Maria R. Mondala-Duncan serves as the Senior Management Analyst for the City of Simi Valley. Dr. Mondala-Duncan is a generalist and a business professional with over 18 years of combined management experience, 13 of which have been in the public sector. Her broad range of experience entail the areas of labor negotiations, monitoring revenue and expenditures, review/analyze legislation for impact on the agency, building relationships with elected officials, and developing new ideas, in addition to operations and administration, organizational leadership/human resources, budgets, contracts, procurement, project management, accounting and finance, and law. Dr. Mondala-Duncan holds a BA in Sociology, an MBA with two concentrations in Organizational Leadership and Project Management, and Doctoral of Business Administration in Business Intelligence. She has published several journal articles, a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and National Society of Leadership and Success, and a 2024 Honored Listee in the Marquis Who's Who.

Rosie Baker, MBA, is a Los Angeles–based communications strategist and startup founder who bridges storytelling, community-building, and sustainability. As Communications Coordinator for California Lutheran University’s School of Management, she drives engagement through multi-channel content and high-impact events—writing and managing newsletters reaching 20,000+ recipients, supporting conferences of up to 400+ attendees, and shaping the School’s digital presence across social and web platforms. She also created and leads the School of Management Brand Ambassadors program, mentoring student creators in personal branding and content strategy while helping them produce viral, high-performing campaigns. Beyond higher ed, Rosie is the CEO and co-founder of UpPup (formerly Misfit Munchies), a venture repurposing surplus and visually imperfect produce into nutritious dog treats, and she’s a published author of Mirrors & Windows: Unlocking a New Framework to Envision Your Success, reflecting her passion for growth, mentorship, and mission-driven innovation.