Meet the Staff :: California Western School of Law

External Affairs office consists of alumni relations, development/fundraising, and marketing and communication efforts on behalf of California Western. If you would like to update your information, give to California Western, or contact one of our legal experts, please call (619) 515-1540 or contact one of the representatives below.

David Bowers
dbowers@cwsl.edu
Assistant Dean for External Affairs

David Bowers has directed external affairs at California Western since 2002. He oversees the development, alumni relations, marketing, and communications functions of the law school. Bowers has nearly 17 years of development experience, including capital campaigns in religious, hospital-based and educational institutions. Prior to coming to California Western, Mr. Bowers was senior campaign director at Jerold Panas, Linzy and Partners, a development-consulting firm. Mr. Bowers received his M.Div. from Nashotah House, and B.A. from the University of the South. He holds a Certificate in Planned Giving from the College of William & Mary, Virginia. Mr. Bowers designed his first web site for a national non-profit in 1996 and began speaking on the subject of the Internet and not-for-profits in 1998. In 2006 and 2007 he presented seminars on Web 2.0, digital convergence and possible implications for Higher Ed’s relationship building efforts, at CASE international conferences. He serves on the Advisory Board of higheredexperts.com.

Lori K. Boyle, MSW
lboyle@cwsl.edu
Director, Alumni Relations and Development

Lori Boyle is the Director for Alumni Relations and Development where she develops and implements plans and strategies for annual giving, regional development and donor and alumni relations programs; plans and implements all alumni, donor and volunteer cultivation, stewardship and recognition events; identifies prospects; establishes and maintains relations with alumni and donors; steers Alumni Association Board in setting its mission, policies and goals and recruits board members.
Ms. Boyle provides opportunities for California Western graduates to network and connect with the law school. She manages the school’s alumni outreach programs, such as directing the Alumni Association Board of Directors, organizes the annual California Western Alumni Weekend Celebration and all San Diego alumni receptions. She is also responsible for the coordination of fundraising for the 3L - Third Year Law Student Gift Campaign, the annual Alumni Board Fundraising Project and recruits San Diego alumni to enhance participation and increase annual giving to the law school. Boyle has extensive experience in alumni relations and higher education. She previously served as Director of Alumni Relations at UCLA School of Law, UCLA School of Social Welfare and National University. She also served as Assistant Director of Regional Development at UCSD, Assistant Director of Development at UCLA School of Social Welfare and Administrative Director for the UCLA Office of Government and Community Relations. She received her Master’s of Social Welfare degree in planning, administration, and community organization from UCLA, a bachelor of arts degree in social welfare from California State University, Chico and an associate arts degree from Boston University. In 1992, Ms. Boyle was selected as the student commencement speaker for the UCLA School of Social Welfare. Ms. Boyle is originally from Newton, Mass. and is a proud mother of one daughter.

Pam Hardy
phardy@cwsl.edu
Director, Marketing and Communications

Pam Hardy serves as Director for Marketing and Communications, overseeing all media relations and publications including Res Ipsa, the Magazine of California Western School of Law. Ms. Hardy comes to California Western from the office of San Diego City Council President Scott Peters, where she served as the first Director of Communications. Prior to that, Ms. Hardy spent nine years producing KPBS Radio’s flagship public affairs programs, “These Days” and “Editors Roundtable,” overseeing all aspects of show production and serving as substitute host. A graduate of the University of California, San Diego with degrees in Communications and Political Science, Ms. Hardy has been recognized as one of the "40 Under 40" by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, and is a graduate of the LEAD San Diego Class of 2006.

Joshua Romero
jromero@cwsl.edu
Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Joshua Romero serves as Marketing and Communications Coordinator, coordinating media relations efforts and internal communications. He is responsible for distributing news releases and advisories to local, regional, and nation media. Additionally, Mr. Romero writes and manages the school's monthly e-newsletter and quarterly employee newsletter. He also contributes to Res Ipsa and all of the school's news social media outlets. He comes to California Western from Alternative Strategies, where he served as a Media Relations Manager for a diverse list of retail, bio-tech, hospitality, and fitness clients. Prior to that, Mr. Romero worked with LEAD San Diego, as the Programs/Operations Administrator. A graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University and The Ohio State University, Romero has a B.A. in media communication and a M.A. in communication, respectively.

Marlene Blas
events@cwsl.edu
Associate Director, Meetings and Events

Marlene Blas has served as associate director for meetings and events at California Western School of Law in San Diego since 2002. In this role, she is responsible for planning more than 100 meetings and events annually. Key among these are: conferences, commencement, alumni reunion weekend, receptions throughout the U.S., and swearing-in ceremonies at the U.S. Supreme Court. Blas received her master of tourism administration from The George Washington University School of Business in the event and meeting management concentration, a bachelor’s degree in journalism and marketing from California State University, Long Beach, and a certificate in event management from the University of San Diego. In addition to lecturing internationally at industry conferences, Blas is the program advisor and lead instructor at California State University, San Marcos, in the Meeting and Event Planning Certificate Program. Her current appointments include the Faculty Task Force for Meeting Professionals International, board of directors for the San Diego chapter of Meeting Professionals International and the Education Advisory Committee for The Convention Industry Council’s Accepted Practices Exchange.

Jonathan Obest
jobest@cwsl.edu
Associate Director, Development

Jonathan Obest joined California Western in 2006 as Associate Director of Development. He oversees annual giving and the alumni database. Specifically, he is in charge of direct mail, online solicitation, data maintenance and extraction, and has been charged with the return of the Phone-a-thon. Prior to joining California Western, Mr. Obest served as Annual Giving Officer and Development Coordinator at Woodbury University in Burbank, Calif. Mr. Obest began his career in development in 2000 working as a caller in the Telephone Outreach Program at University of California, Irvine - where he holds a B.A. in Political Science.

Alex Denisov
adenisov@cwsl.edu
Web Content Manager & Database Administrator

Alex Denisov joined California Western in 2009 as Web Content Manager & Database Administrator. In this position, Alex’s responsibilities include content management, web development and design initiatives for Alumni Connect, as well as supporting the database and fundraising efforts of the law school. Prior to joining California Western, Alex held several positions at software and technology companies in the greater San Diego area, including stints at BrightCloud, PageTech, and Kintera. Alex received his B.A. in International Studies: Economics with an emphasis on Political Science from the University of California, San Diego.

Donna Vella
dvella@cwsl.edu

Another welcoming voice and smile alumni may encounter belongs to Donna Vella. A native of San Diego, Ms. Vella has been at California Western for 13 years, and became a member of the External Affairs Staff in 2005. She previously worked in the Faculty Support Offices. She is responsible for contacting alumni to make sure they receive California Western alumni correspondence, researching and locating alumni the law school has lost contact with, and updating address changes in California Western's alumni database system.

David Crowell
dcrowell@cwsl.edu

David Crowell joined the External Affairs staff in 2006. Assistant to the dean for external affairs, Mr. Crowell strives to make each caller and visitor feel welcome. He is responsible for the department's daily operations and provides administrative support to our entire staff. If you're not quite certain whom you need, contact Mr. Crowell. Prior to his current position, Crowell has worked with Faculty Support Services; Student and Diversity Services; and the Dean's Office. Originally from eastern Pennsylvania, Mr. Crowell has an extensive background in human development and elementary education. He received his B.A. degree from Point Loma Nazarene University.