Board Members
INTERIM BOARD
The new Interim Board will serve through June 30, 2025, at which time new Board Elections will be held for a full year term: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026.
OFFICERS:
Lorna Carriveau, Co-President
Lorna has resided with her husband, Armand, in Woodland for over 30 years. She is retired from a full-time career in human resource management and part-time career as a Lead Faculty Area Chair for the University of Phoenix. Her volunteer work includes serving on the City of Woodland Personnel Board, Yolo County Restorative Justice Partnership, Yolo County grand jury, and on the boards of the Sacramento Area Human Resources Association, Grizzly Peak Fly Fishers and Northern California Federation/Fly Fishers International. She joined the LWV Woodland in 2019, serving as Secretary and Communications Director until becoming LWVYC Co-president in 2025. Her loves include family, fly fishing, and fine dining.
Michelle Famula, Co-President
Michelle is a 40-year Davis resident, where she and husband Tom raised 3 daughters. A UCD physician of 35 years, she was the Student Affairs Health and Wellness Executive Director of the campus Student Health and Counseling Service until retiring in 2016. She serves as a Volunteer Clinical Faculty in the Department of Public Health Sciences and on the Yolo County Health Council. She came to the League Board in 2021, became LWVDA President in 2023 and LWVYC Co-President in 2025. Hobbies include travel, gardening and kayaking.
Stephanie DeGraff-Hunt, Vice President
Stephanie DeGraff-Hunt was raised in Chico, CA. From 1972 to 1984, Stephanie studied and taught in Chile, Mexico, Ireland, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, and taught in Egypt from 1996 to 1998. She completed graduate school with a Masters in Spanish Literature from UCD in 1986. Stephanie taught Spanish Immersion for 29 years and maintained involvement in Global Affairs, UCD and Sacramento State Math Institutes, Crocker Art Gallery Summer Art Institutes, and served on the Davis School Arts Foundation for seven years. She is now retired and serves as president of The American Association of University Women and of the Davis Flower Arrangers. She joined LWVDA in 2022 and became an active member of the Health Care Committee, assisted the Forum Committee throughout the election cycle, and became LWVDA Vice President in 2024 and LWVYC Vice President in 2025. She loves to read, swim, garden, hike and whale-watch.
Janice Ratner, Secretary
Janice and her husband moved to Woodland in 2023 from Amherst, MA where they lived many years and raised their children. She served on several town committees including the finance committee. Janice’s work experience included virus research and accounting. She was active in the Amherst LWV, serving on the board as president and treasurer. She joined the LWVW in 2024, became secretary, and is now serving as secretary of the LWVYC. She enjoys spending time with family, reading, and gardening.
Carla Cox, Treasurer
I'm a retired teacher and small business owner who enjoys gardening, reading, volunteering with Yolo Basin Foundation, and trips to the coast whenever possible! Several years ago, LWV Woodland member Laura Caruso-Kofoid invited me to attend a State of the Community Luncheon and join the league. In 2020, I was encouraged to get involved in voter services activities by then president Pat Butler and that experience hooked me! I am now enjoying my role as Treasurer, but will continue assisting in voter services and other league activities going forward. This is a wonderful organization and I'm delighted to be part of it!
DIRECTORS:
Faye Smith-Gee, Co-Director of Membership
After moving from the Bay Area to Woodland, I was excited to meet new people and become part of this welcoming community. Working as a Yolo County election worker in November 2022 and watching past League of Women Voters facilitated-debates inspired me to join the League and support democracy in action. I love spending my free time gardening, walking the dog, practicing Tai Chi and Pilates, and trying new recipes in the kitchen. I’m excited to be a member of the League and make a difference as a board member.
Kathleen Stack, Co-Director of Membership
Katheen worked for Freedom from Hunger, an international nonprofit based in Davis, for 33 years. She directed global microfinance and health programs to reduce hunger and poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Before joining the organization, Kathleen was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali, USAID Project Leader in Burkina Faso and Consultant. Kathleen joined LWVDA in 2019, was the Secretary in 2024, and is currently Co-Chair of Membership for LWVYC.
She enjoys gardening and memoir writing.
Judy Higgerson, Director of Voter Services
Judy joined the Monterey Chapter of the League of Women Voters in the mid 1980's. Started her volunteer time in the membership committee, ultimately serving 2 years as the Chapter President. After moving to Davis 8 years ago, only to find no LWV chapter Judy learned that a revival of a LWV chapter was being established in Davis.
Quickly volunteering to serve as a Voter Registration Chair, she started seeking out opportunities to register voters, and as well as voter education. Working with the Yolo County Election Office has provided me with ample challenges and opportunities to serve Yolo County Residents.
Komal Hak, Co-Director of Communications
Komal moved to Davis in 2014 to finish her bachelor’s degree at University of California, Davis. After receiving her degree in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, she has devoted some of her free time to advocacy and mission driven organizations. She currently serves as the Quality Assurance Supervisor for a non-profit healthcare organization.
Komal has held long term leadership roles at previous organizations and loves to share resources and put information in the hands of the individual to empower their choices.
In addition to advocating for equitable access to healthcare, she is passionate about traveling, sustainable fashion and lifestyle, and her absolutely adorable desert tortoise, Dinos.
Jessica Smith, Co-Director of Communications
What to say? I’m currently working in administrative support for a local nonprofit, which gives me time to pursue other goals like getting more involved in the community. I worked with Yolo’s Mobile Vote Center the first year of its use, and I spent time working at the County Law Library helping people access legal services. Besides the League, I love hiking, cooking, and gardening, and of course writing! I’m looking forward to writing more articles for the League and making voting more understandable and accessible to everyone in Yolo county.
Janet Ruggiero, Director of Studies/Positions
Janet is a founding member of the Woodland League, serving as president from 1976-1977 and more recently as well as in various board positions as needed. She has been a member of several professional organizations related to city planning, served as Board member of the League of California Cities, Mercy Housing California and Friends of the Mission, has trained school board members in eight states through the De La Salle Institute in Napa, and is helping Holy Rosary Parish to plan and build its new church. Janet worked for many years in city planning and community development in Yolo County, the cities of Woodland and Citrus Heights and was recognized as a Woman of the Year by State Senator Bill Dodd in 2020. Janet completed the Leagues housing study and position with Elizabeth Kemper in 2021 and is now spearheading the adult mental health study with volunteers from the Woodland and Davis Leagues.
