Gifted Youth Program Volunteers

SFRM’s Gifted Youth Program (GYP) volunteers have all been background checked and approved by American Mensa and the Gifted Youth Committee.  In addition to the Gifted Youth Coordinators, Mensa allows Mensan and non-Mensan parents to volunteer as Parent and Member volunteers for their local group so that the group may better serve their gifted youth. They are not officer positions and have no title associated with it.  Additionally, parent and member volunteers serve with the understanding that they assist the elected and appointed officers by hosting and organizing events for the gifted youth in their group.

Parent Volunteers

• Angela Kwan

Meet the Gifted Youth Program Volunteers

GIFTED YOUTH COORDINATOR

Lana Lee

I’m a typical Mensan: all over the map. 15 years as a civil engineer but an oboe degree from U.S.C., having played at the Hollywood Bowl and a background in internet development.  I work as a community manager for a Silicon Valley tech company and also make websites on the side primarily for musicians. I love performing music, playing board games, and talking about Harry Potter – in fact, I run Special Interest Groups (SIGs) for all of those interests – and hanging out with my dog, Lola.

Currently, I’m San Francisco Regional Mensa‘s (SFRM) webmaster and GenX Coordinator and have also served on their Executive Committee as a member-at-large. I’ve also led a number of leadership development workshops for Mensa’s marketing committee and am also Region 8’s Young Adult Mensans coordinator and regional assistant.

​​I recently served on the board of the Gifted Homeschoolers Forum and am actively involved as in the Mensa Foundation’s strategic planning committee. As your gifted youth coordinator, I look forward to hosting virtual events that are unique and exciting as well as creating a supportive community for our gifted youth.

ASSISTANT GIFTED YOUTH COORDINATOR

Maria Gomez

Hi! My name is Maria, and as a 30 year veteran in Mensa, I am excited to help out as a volunteer and assist with Region 8’s Gifted Youth. I have my BA in Film Production from SFSU and a master’s in Gifted Education from the University of Connecticut. Although I grew up on the San Francisco peninsula, I’ve spent most of my adult life living as an expat while teaching elementary and middle school in international schools around the world. I’ve lived in Ecuador, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Japan!

I love traveling, photography, movies, maps, trivia, and all kinds of fandoms. My favorites are Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Beatles, Monty Python, and musical theater. I also love reading mysteries, dystopian novels, and biographies. Acting and directing plays used to take up a lot of my time, but nowadays I have quieted down a little and started to learn how to quilt!

I am looking forward to meeting you and having fun at our upcoming events!

MEMBER VOLUNTEER

Bernadette Hill-Comeau

Bernadette Hill-Comeau is a mom and a Mensa member who lives in Fremont, CA. She brings her passion for community-building to the Mensa Gifted Youth Program and is committed to creating a supportive environment for gifted kids and their parents. Bernadette actively volunteers within Mensa, striving to foster meaningful connections and opportunities for growth among families within the GY program as well as the larger Mensa community.

MEMBER VOLUNTEER

Nick Kloski

Nick Kloski is a Mensa member living in the Walnut Creek / Danville area. He has been a Mensa member since the age of 10 and remembers fondly the Mensa events he went to as a child. Now a full-fledged adult, Nick is father to a bright and happy son Rowan who just entered 6th grade. Nick is passionate about fostering resources to enrich and delight his son’s life and is excited to contribute that enthusiasm to the gifted youth program. Nick loves words and thoughts, with hobbies ranging from collectible card games, role playing games, amateur microscopy, to 3D printing, poetry, and creative writing.

MEMBER VOLUNTEER

Jen Storm-Alves

Jen Storm-Alves is San Francisco Regional Mensa’s Local Secretary (President).