Trustees

Burt Arnold B.A., is the chairman of the Marymount College Board of Trustees.  Professionally he is the principal of BMA Securities in Rolling Hills Estates, a full service brokerage firm offering a wide array of financial services for individuals and corporations. During his career, Burt has been instrumental in taking several companies public, including many listed on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, the Bulletin Board and the American Stock Exchange.  Burt has actively participated in the Palos Verdes Chamber of Commerce, BRAVO and the Encore Circle support groups of the Norris Center for the Performing Arts, the Palos Verdes Sunset Rotary, the Sisters of Charity of Rolling Hills and the Community Helpline.  He is an alumnus of Marymount College and California State University Dominguez Hills with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Economics.

Michael S. Brophy Ph.D., M.F.A., President
Dr. Michael Brophy serves as the sixth president of Marymount College.
click here to read Dr. Brophy's complete bio.

Alex Cappello B.S., is the vice chair of the Marymount College Board of Trustees.  He founded the Cappello Group, a global merchant bank that operates in 50 countries, providing strategic advice to companies and governments on mergers and acquisitions, placements of institutional capital, finance and investments.  The firm’s principals have conducted more than $140 billion in transactions.  Alex serves on or has served on the following boards:  University of Southern California Board of Trustees, the City of Hope, RAND Corporation’s Center for Middle East Policy (CMEPP), RAND Corporation’s Russia Forum, California Republic Bank, lead director at Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ), chairman of Inter-Tel (NASDAQ), chairman Intelligent Energy, PLC (London) and chairman of the International Board of the Public Council on International Policy.  He is a graduate of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.

Sr. Antoine-Marie Baurier RSHM, Ph.D., Secretary, received the 2009 Founder's Award following the Founder's Day Mass on March 25, 2009. In 1969, Sr. Antoine-Marie Baurier was teaching in Paris, when she was asked to travel to America to teach at Marymount High School in Palos Verdes.  This one-year assignment lenghthened until, in 1972, she joined the faculty at marymount College.  In 2009, Sr. Antoine celebrates 40 years as an educator in California and is a cherished member of the Marymount community.

Jack A. Allocco B.S., is an accomplished musician, conductor and composer. He has received 10 Emmy nominations and two awards, as well as eight American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) awards for the most performed music on television.  His credits include compositions for “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.”  Jack grew up in Rochester, New York, and attended Nazareth College.  He was the first male graduate of Nazareth College, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in Music Theory.  He simultaneously attended St. John Fisher College, graduated first in his class, also cum laude, with a Business Administration degree.  Jack received an Honorary Doctorate from Nazareth College in 2007.

Ty F. Bobit is president and CEO of Bobit Business Media. Founded in 1961, Bobit Business Media has its headquarters in Torrance, California and 15 regional offices throughout the United States. Bobit Business Media provides news and knowledge to people within specialized business industries through publications, trade shows, Web sites, research and associations. Bobit is a member of the College’s Media Studies Advisory Board and has been providing insight and counsel into the design of facilities and curriculum for the College’s Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Program. 

Patricia Dilligan M.A.  Patricia's career in education began as a biology teacher at Ossining High School in New York.  She moved to the west coast and held positions with Stephen White Middle School in Carson and Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles.  While at Manual Arts, Patricia was the Title I coordinator with responsibility for budget management, hiring, district and accreditation reports.  In 1995, Patricia moved her career to the Venice High Foreign Language/International Studies Magnet School with responsibilities for student recruitment, district reports and accreditation.

Board Member-Elect Richard D. Farman served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sempra Energy from 1998 to 2000.  Prior to that Richard Farman served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Pacific Enterprises Inc., an energy services company and Chief Executive Officer of Southern California Gas Company, a major subsidiary of Sempra Energy.  Farman has been Chairman Emeritus of Sempra Energy since September 2000, and served as Lead Director of two NYSE listed companies.  Farman is a member of the College’s Business Advisory Board. He is one of several accomplished business leaders to advise the College on program development and curriculum for its four-year Business program.

Bonifacio Garcia J.D., is an attorney with the Los Angeles firm Burke, Williams, Sorenson, LLP.  He specializes in strategic advice, labor relations and negotiations, governmental relations and educational law.  He has served on the boards of the Skirball Institute of American Values and The Advancement Project, a public interest litigation group that promotes equal opportunity in American political and educational institutions.  A magna cum laude graduate of Loyola Marymount University, Dr. Garcia earned his law degree at Harvard University.

Richard Grotz B.S.E.E., was associated with AiResearch in Torrance where he was manager of Major Subcontracts, including the F-16 which was co-produced with Denmark, and the uranium enrichment program for the Department of Energy. Prior to AiResearch, Dick was employed by Astronautics Corporation of America and General Motors where he contributed to the early space programs including Gemini, Apollo and the F-14. In 1983, Dick and his wife Arline founded a Christmas tree producing company in Bigfork, Montana. In 1992, they retired and both became very active in local philanthropy and politics.  Dick started his service with Marymount College’s Board of Trustees in 1998. He attended Marquette University where he earned a bachelor’s of science degree in Electrical Engineering.

Janet Hausrath Thrall, B.A., is a top-performing real estate agent with RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty.  Her family has lived in Palos Verdes since 1975. Her daughter graduated with honors from Marymount College in 2007.  Janet also served on the Board of Directors for Vistas for Children and was Vice President of the Peninsula Couples Club. Prior to her successful career in real estate, Janet was a store manager for Macy’s Department Stores in Cerritos, Santa Ana, Montclair and Palos Verdes. She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles.

David A. Herbst B.A., serves as the executive vice president of Los Angeles-based Mercury Air Group, one of the world’s largest privately owned aviation services company.  He is responsible for strategic growth of the company.   Prior to this position he was senior vice president and general manager of MWW Group, one of the nation’s top 10 public relations agencies, where he specialized in crisis management and communications. 

Sr. Joan Lescinski CSJ, Ph.D. Since 2007, Sr. Joan Lescinski has served as the president and a professor of English at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.  She served for nine years prior as president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana.  Growing up in Albany, New York, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1965.  She holds a bachelor’s  and  master’s degree in English from the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York and a Ph.D. in British Literature from Brown University.

Brian W. G. Marcotte is the CEO of Titan Oil Recovery, Inc.  He has extensive experience in the oil and gas industry ranging from technical positions to executive management. During his 34-year career with Unocal Corporation, he held the positions of: President Unocal Thailand, President Unocal Indonesia, President Unocal Netherlands, Corporate Vice President Public Policy, Health Environment and Safety, Vice President Unocal US Western Region, Vice President of Technology and Asset Management and Chairman of the Unocal Foundation. Marcotte serves on the College’s Business Advisory Board, a group of accomplished business professionals in management, marketing and higher education that provides guidance to College’s four-year business program.

Sr. Alice F. Molina, RSHM, has spent the last 12 years with the Diocese of San Bernardino — first as the director of the Office of Religious Education and Formation, and most recently as the director of the Department of the Ministry of Educational Services. Prior to 1997, Molina was involved with the Hispanic Ministries at both the Diocese of San Diego and at Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles. She served many years as religious education director at Diocese throughout California, as well as Arizona.  After graduating from Santa Clara University in 1971, she taught elementary school in Cupertino and Los Angeles, California.  She received her Master’s Degree in 1984 from Fordham University in Bronx, New York, and completed post-graduate studies at Berkeley’s Graduate Theological Union in 1992.

Michael Moody B.S., is the president of IRIS, Ltd., an international risk management consulting firm specializing in government clients, educational institutions and the construction industry.  He is a registered professional engineer and has been active in civil and public affairs.  Michael was a member of the LAX Expansion Task Force, the board of directors of the Los Angeles County Sanitation District and the executive committee of the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority.  He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.

Sr. Gregory Naddy RSHM,is a trustee emeritus of the Marymount college Board of Trustees. She celebrated her 60th anniversary, her Diamond Jubilee with the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, in 1997. She began her service with the Marymount College Board of Trustees in 1995 and retired from the board in June 2001.  She was a member of the College faculty and administration followed by volunteer service for nearly 20 years.

Sr. Mary Leah Plante RSHM, M.T.S., has served as the president of the board of directors for the Collaborative Project for Aging Religious, co-chair of the board of directors for the South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project and provincial councilor for the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary.  She has worked full time as a teacher in both primary and secondary schools.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in History and a master’s in Theological Studies.

Timothy G. Psomas B.S.C.E., is chairman of Psomas and Associates, a large consulting engineering firm with clients that include the Staples Center, Los Angeles Community College District, LAUSD, Caltrans, MWD Southern California, Universal Studios and LAX Airport. He is current national chairman of the American Council of Engineering Companies, has served on the board of directors of the Boy Scouts of America in the Western Los Angeles County Council, the Center for the Study of Los Angeles and Project Restore dedicated to the restoration of Los Angeles’ City Hall.  He also serves on the board of regents for his alma mater, Loyola Marymount College, where he was honored as Alumnus of the Year 1999 and on the board of Legatus, an international organization of Roman Catholic CEOs.

Lia V. Reyes has been the principal and senior consultant of International Business Alliance for more than 10 years. She is responsible for the organization’s international consulting, business development and contract proposal activity.  She coordinates efforts between investors, developers, architects, contractors and includes work in business and marketing strategies.  She is active with professional associations such as the Urban Land Institute, Southern California Development Forum, Central City Association, International Parking Association and several marketing organizations. She is an alumnus of the Anderson School of Business at the University of California, Los Angeles and Marymount College of Fordham University in New York.

Thomas S. Ricci B.S., is executive vice president of Thomas Properties Group, Inc., Los Angeles, where he is responsible for development, redevelopment and construction management. Prior to joining Thomas Properties in 1998, he was vice president of planning and entitlements at Maguire Thomas Partners, Playa Capital Company, where he worked on a number of large mixed-use and commercial projects. Thomas served as captain in the United States Air Force and was involved with the implementation and construction of medical facilities in this country and abroad.  He graduated from the New York Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s of science degree and a second bachelor’s with honors in Architecture.

Caroline A. Sayers J.D., is an alumna (1993) of Marymount College and at one-time served on the faculty of the College. Her academic achievements include a bachelor’s in philosophy from Georgetown University, a teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach and her law degree (cum laude 2000) from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.  Caroline is a litigation attorney in both state and federal court.  Her mother, Professor Kari Sayers is on the faculty of Marymount College.

Sue Soldoff Ph.D, taught psychology at a number of higher education institutions for ten years before embarking on a wholesale travel business, Sue’s Safaris, Inc.  from which she is now retired. She has served her community for more than three decades including involvement with the Norris Center for the Performing Arts, Las Candalistas and the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy.  An undergraduate alumna of the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Soldoff received her master’s degree and a doctorate in Experimental Psychology from the University of Southern California.