The Santa Barbara Zoo has four new members on its Board of Directors: Mitch Avila, Sarah Berkus Gower, Bob Looney, and Robyn Parker.
Avila is provost at California State University Channel Islands, where helping to adopt a multi-year strategic enrollment plan and expansion of academic programs.
He has 30 years of experience in the CSU system at four campuses, including five years’ as dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
As associate dean and chair of the Philosophy Department at Cal State Fullerton, Avila directed professional development for adjunct faculty, expanded study abroad programs, and developed new degrees.
He holds a Ph.D in philosophy from UC Santa Barbara, and researches theories of human rights and global justice, along with the aesthetics of film and photography.
Berkus Gower practiced as an attorney at Hollister & Brace with a focus in complex litigation for over a decade and now does legal consulting and volunteering.
She holds degrees from USC’s Marshall School of Business and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law; as well as certificates in ESG and Sustainability from UC Berkeley Law and Stanford Earth.
Berkus Gower served six years on the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s Board of Trustees. She also served as co-chair of the Santa Barbara Yacht Club Yachts of Love Charity Regatta, benefitting Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care.
Looney has been a Realtor for the past 19 years, following a 25-year radio career at Golden West Broadcasters, KMPC Radio in Hollywood.
Earlier in his career he spent three years at Mattel as a salesman, followed by a four-year stint at Carson/Roberts Advertising as an account executive working on Mattel’s Hot Wheels campaigns.
Looney grew up in Santa Barbara, then left to attend the University of Utah.
Parker earned a degree in business economics at UC Santa Barbara, and worked as a program officer for the Hutton Parker Foundation while serving on its grant selection committee.
She currently volunteers for CASA, Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care, Santa Barbara City College Alumni Association, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara Bowl education outreach, and Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.
A longtime zoo supporter, Parker served on the Discovery Pavilion committee, on the board (2015-21), and has been a member of the Zoofari Ball committee since 2015. She was Zoofari’s honorary chair alongside her husband Jess in 2022, and led the zoo’s Annual Appeal in 2022.