Meet Our New Board Members—March

Rhodesia Ransom smiling and looking at the camera with her shoulders turned.

 

Rhodesia Ransom

Rhodesia Ransom believes that community-focused leadership must be principled, collaborative, and results-oriented.  That’s why she’s all in for United Way of San Joaquin County.

Shaped by the values of public service, she spent much of her childhood working alongside her grandmother on volunteer projects to connect vulnerable families with food, housing, and other critical services.

After earning her bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University and a Master’s in Public Administration, Rhodesia worked in private sector management for fifteen years. She went on to teach graduate-level courses in public finance and business management.

As co-founder and executive director of Sow A Seed Community Foundation, she has championed mentoring and mental health programs for San Joaquin County youth since 2005. Her efforts have helped thousands of youth access stigma-free counseling and support services in public schools. 

As a former city council member for the City of Tracy Ms. Ransom earned a reputation for challenging the status quo and tackling important policies like investing in our youth, reducing homelessness, diversifying housing, and improving accountability and transparency.

Ransom’s service to the community includes 7 years on the Tracy Planning Commission where she performed a critical oversight role on new residential and commercial development projects.  She has also served on the San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury providing oversight to public agencies across our county to improve efficiency and service delivery.

Rhodesia Ransom is a proud member of the City of Tracy where she and her husband raised their three children.


Dr. Pamela Eibeck smiling, looking at the camera.

 

Dr. Pamela A. Eibeck

Dr. Pamela A. Eibeck retired in 2019 after serving as President of University of the Pacific for ten years. As President, Eibeck was deeply committed to the San Joaquin community, including establishing Beyond our Gates to enhance early literacy in San Joaquin County. Her service to the community was recognized by the 2015 ATHENA Leadership Award. She was also a leader in American higher education, chairing the Association for Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) for two years, serving as a board member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and serving as vice chair of the NCAA’s D1 Committee on Academics. Eibeck received her bachelor's through doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, taught and earned tenure at the University of California at Berkeley, served as a professor and administrator at Northern Arizona University, and served as dean of the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering at Texas Tech.

Upon retirement, Eibeck and her husband Bill Jeffery chose to stay in the Stockton region where they live on a few acres in an 80 year old farmhouse and enjoy cultivating their gardens, an orchard, and chickens. They have four children, two of whom live in the Bay Area, one in Atlanta GA and one in Ecuador.


Brandy Thurman sitting smiling and looking at camera.

Brandy Thurman

Brandy Thurman is currently the Director of The Discovery ChalleNGe Academy (DCA), a partnership between the California National Guard and The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE). Brandy has worked at The San Joaquin County Office of Education since 2005 and has served as a teacher, coach, and administrator over the past seventeen years. Brandy is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Stockton, a member of The University of the Pacific Athletic Hall of Fame, and The Stockton Mexican Sports Hall of Fame. Brandy attended University of the Pacific on a softball scholarship and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and teaching credential in 2003; she earned her Master of Arts degree in Education Administration and her Administrative Services Credential in 2012 also from The University of the Pacific.

Brandy is a long-time resident of Stockton and enjoys spending time with family and friends, most recreational activities, and serving her community.


Bubba Paris smiling, sitting at a high table with hands folded resting on table.

William H. Paris Jr.

William H. Paris Jr. is better known as “Bubba” Paris. He hails from Louisville, Kentucky, where he attended DeSales High School and was team captain and MVP. He went to the University of Michigan where he played for Bo Schembechler. While playing for Michigan, they won two Big Ten Titles, a Rose Bowl and Blue Bonnet Bowl Championship. He was a four-year letterman, an All-American, two time All-Big Ten, second team Academic All-American, Academic All-Big Ten, and Academic All-District. He also played in two college All-Star games: the Japan and Hula Bowls.

In 1982, he was the San Francisco Forty-Niner’s first draft choice. He played with them for nine years; eight of which he started at left tackle. In those nine years, they won three Super Bowl Championships, eight Western Division Titles and played in five NFC Championship games. They were known as the team of the decade! He was also the players’ union representative for five years.

He's now the Executive Director/CEO of Tracy Community Connection Center.