Mark J. Ballam
President
Mark J. Ballam serves as managing director for San Diego State University’s Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business where he is responsible for the overall strategy and implementation of the program including budget, resources, advocacy, and communications. He also manages a $1.3 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education, awarded to SDSU in October 2022 This program helped launch the undergraduate International Business degree program at SDSU, which is ranked #6 nationally in public universities in U.S. News and World Report’s 2023 America’s Best Colleges publication. Ballam came to SDSU in 2005, after eight years at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Before Georgia Tech, he had a twelve-year career in the banking industry. Since his arrival at SDSU, he has been instrumental in raising nearly $10 million in grants and gifts. Read more Ballam serves on the board of the Association of International Business Education and Research. Recently, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce reappointed Ballam to the San Diego & Imperial District Export Council and, in 2022, was elected Treasurer of the organization. Ballam serves as president of the San Diego Diplomacy Council. He recently completed two terms as president of the Consortium for Undergraduate International Business Education. In 2015, Ballam was elected to serve as executive board member of the Pacific Asia Consortium for International Business Education and Research. Ballam represented the Pacific South Region on the board of directors of the National Association of District Export Councils (NADEC) for two consecutive terms. Since 2016, he has remained active with NADEC serving as Associate Board Member and Regional Legislative Affairs Coordinator. Additionally, Ballam sits on the International Affairs Council of SDSU’s University Senate. He serves on the Advisory Committee for Southwestern College’s Small Business Development and International Trade Center.Ballam completed his undergraduate studies at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, and earned an MBA from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. His most recent co-authored academic paper was published in August 2018, in the Journal of Innovations in Education and Teaching International (Routledge). Ballam has been a longtime member of the Academy of International Business (AIB), Scholars Without Borders, and Phi Beta Delta, the honor society for international scholars.
Paula C. Herring
Vice President
Paula C. Herring, EdD is Faculty Chair and Professor at DeVry University, where she has taught international business, critical thinking, management and leadership courses for 20 years. She trains, hires and manages a faculty staff, also. Dr. Herring teaches adjunct for California Miramar University on the doctorate level. Her professional background is in education and international business and she serves on the Survivors of Torture, International board and past board service includes the Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF) and Parkinsons Disease Association of San Diego.Read more
She earned her doctorate from Fielding Graduate University in Leadership and Social Justice and was awarded a dissertation research grant from the Women’s Network of Gender Empowerment (WNGE). The Institute for Social Innovation Scholarship awarded her a Dissertation Topic and Research Award for her research about Rwandan women. Additional research, publications, and speaking engagements include the topics of inclusivity, entrepreneurship, human rights, and emerging economies. She also has earned an MBA and Bachelors of Arts degrees in Political Science and Public Communications. Paula is a member of the Academic of Business Association (ABA) and IEEE.
Rachel Lozano Castro
Vice President
Rachel Lozano Castro immensely enjoys serving as a host, board member, and community educator for the San Diego Diplomacy Council. Her day job has her working creatively and collaboratively on environmental and civic projects at the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center. Formerly, she ran a small business development center and a social innovation program at the University of San Diego. She has degrees from PLNU and SDSU so is pretty much filling out the San Diego bingo card. She teaches entrepreneurship at CETYS Universidad in Tijuana and has given several speeches, including a TedX talk, about living on both sides of our US-Mexico border. She has lived in the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Mexico and can get around in Spanish and Portuguese. She and her husband Raul love living in Paradise Hills, San Diego.
Hon. Leslie Bassett
Secretary
Ambassador (ret’d.) Leslie Bassett settled in this area after a 35-year diplomatic career with service in locations from Israel to South Africa, and Mexico City to Seoul, Korea, most recently serving as Ambassador to Paraguay under President Obama. Ambassador Bassett’s experiences highlighted the important role local initiatives play in creating global understanding. Exchanges, networking, dialogue and outreach are fundamental tools contributing to expanded U.S. influence and engagement in the world. She is delighted to support the San Diego Diplomacy Council’s work in connecting our community to the world in so many unique and innovative ways.
Sam Caulfield
Treasurer
Sam is the Director of Tax Accounting with Sempra Energy in San Diego. He has 23+ years’ experience in corporate income tax, accounting, and SEC reporting. He has held positions with various “Big 4” public accounting firms, as well as in-house positions with U.S.-based multinationals such as GE Capital in Connecticut and Weatherford International in Houston, TX.Read more
Sam received his first law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law and his LL.M in tax from New York University. He is licensed to practice law in New York (retired) and Connecticut. Sam is married to Christine Caulfield who is self-employed as an attorney. They live in Coronado and together have two sons, Avery (age 18) and Evan (age 16). Sam enjoys baseball (watching) and tennis (watching and playing — at least when is back is not on the fritz). Sam has dedicated his time to various non-profit organizations, including the New Canaan Country School where he served as a member of the board of trustees and president of the alumni council. He also served as co-president (with Christine) of the Parent Annual Fund for the Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, CT where Avery and Evan have attended boarding school.
Richard Bainter
Ric Bainter is an attorney in San Diego who has practiced internationally for more than 20 years. He has provided legal advice to organizations in Bosnia, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Lithuania, Poland and Vietnam. Ric has taught courses on international law and international organizations at the University of San Diego School of Law, Thomas Jefferson School of Law and the University of California, San Diego. He serves on the Executive Committee of the International Law Section of the California Lawyers Association, the National Governing Board of Common Cause, and City of San Diego’s International Affairs Board.
Joe Passaretti
Joe is retired after more than 40 years serving in a variety of non-profit philanthropy positions. Most recently, he was the Director of Estate and Gift Planning for San Diego Humane Society, averaging annual bequests of more than $8 million. Previously, he directed philanthropy activities for San Diego State’s Fowler College of Business and the University of San Diego’s Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science. Joe began his career working for numerous United Ways across the country, including as Vice President of Resource Development for the United Way of San Diego County. He also served as Assistant Director of the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University where he managed philanthropy educational programs. A native of Catskill, NY, Joe received his undergraduate degree from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY and his Certificate as a Specialist in Planned Giving from CSU Long Beach.
Susan J. Flieder
Susan J. Flieder is an active member of the San Diego nonprofit community. After receiving her JD from DePaul University in Chicago, Susan practiced environmental law for more than 20 years. Upon moving to Southern California she became the first environmental attorney at the Port of San Diego. In 2007, Susan earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the University of San Diego. She has served as Board Chair of Wildcoast, an international nonprofit that seeks to conserve coastal and marine ecosystems and wildlife. Read more
Susan has also served on the board of the Orca Fund, a fund housed at the San Diego Foundation, which supported various environmental nonprofits in San Diego. Susan volunteers for the Friendly Match program at Jewish Family Services where she has been helping a Syrian family adjust to their new life in San Diego. Twice a year, her family hosts “house concerts” in support of Little Village Foundation, a nonprofit in the music industry that supports the dreams of artists from non-traditional backgrounds.
Mathew Holloway
Mathew B. Holloway is the founder of Conversations by Courage, a consulting practice dedicated to connected ideas, sectors, and communities for collective well-being. With over ten years of experience in developing social change in rural, urban, and international settings, he also holds a M.S. in Conflict Resolution from the University of San Diego. As a restorative scholar-practitioner and skilled storyteller, his focus delves into the realms of social pain, care, and conflict within the landscape of U.S. public affairs. As the nation reaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, his work seeks to re-story the public discourse around these critical issues.
Hemant Phadnis
Hemant Phadnis currently works in the development and execution of projects in energy, electric vehicles and public infrastructure. He has spent the past 13 years working with national, state, and local government entities and global NGOs to build high-profile public infrastructure and nation-building projects around the world. He has traveled to nearly 70 countries, lived on three continents and is looking forward to bringing his global experience in operations improvement, international development and digital innovation to the Council.
Randy Reyes
Randy graduated from the University of San Diego with his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in International Relations, as he was a part of their BA/MA Dual Degree program. Randy concentrated his studies on international security, Latin America, and great power competition. During his graduate studies, he co-authored, co-edited, and published a book offering advice to young professionals seeking internships in the field of international relations. Randy is the son of Mexican immigrants, is fluent in Spanish, and is a proud lifelong San Diego County resident.
Asokan Selvaraj
Asokan Selvaraj has served in various technology leadership and executive management roles over his 25 year professional experience. He currently serves as the Global Enterprise Architect for Callaway Golf.
Previously, Asokan served in the Executive Committee as well as on the Board of Trustees of San Diego Tamil Sangam, a non-profit organization fostering the Tamil culture within the San Diego Community. Asokan has a Masters in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Asokan and his wife have lived and raised two daughters in San Diego over the last 22 years.
ALEXANDRA STAN
Alexandra Stan is an in-house attorney at Harbinger Motors and previously worked at Rivian. She focuses on contract negotiations, dispute resolution, and supply chain counseling. Alex obtained her JD at Loyola University Chicago and her Masters in Public Policy from University College London. She is originally from Michigan, where she was a Board Member of our sister organization, Global Ties Detroit. Alex has been involved with the San Diego Diplomacy Council since she moved to California in 2021. She loves traveling internationally, learning about different cultures, and making connections locally and all around the world. Alex joined us on our outbound trips to Colombia and Panama and will see you on the next one!
