Larry Severance, Ph.D., J.D.
President of the Board

Larry Severance was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated from  U.C. Riverside with double-majors in psychology and economics.  He went on to earn a Ph.D.in social psychology at Duke University.  He served in U.S. Army from 1969-1971 and was honorably discharged.  He became interested in criminal justice while teaching at Skidmore College in upstate New York, and taught residents inside a maximum security prison (“University Without Walls”).  He later moved to Seattle, Washington,  attended law school at the University of Washington, and became a lawyer.  He worked for about 4 years as a half-time as a public defender and half-time research faculty in U.W.’s psychology department.  He published research on how to improve jurors’ understanding of jury instructions.   

Larry is married, with two step-children and 4 grandchildren.  He and his wife have had a home in Santa Barbara since 1993.  Larry has lived full-time in Santa Barbara since 2016.  Here, he is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and is a combo musician at Sunday worship services.  He has participated with Social Venture Partners and New Beginnings Counseling Center to advance affordable housing.  As co-Chair of CLUE-SB’s Criminal Justice workgroup, he is a vocal advocate for transformational changes to Santa Barbara County’s criminal justice system.

https:\\telcsb.org

Emiliano Amaya-Andrade Campobello
Vice-President

Born in Riverside, CA, Emiliano Amaya-Andrade Campobello is a Chicano/Indigenous artist, entrepreneur, and activist who moved with his family to Santa Barbara in 1978.

He was educated in Santa Barbara from grammar school to U.C.S.B. This included following his passion to study and sculpt marble in Venice, Italy for a year (Education Abroad Program), receiving a B.A in Art Studio with honors in 1992. Since then, he has dedicated over 3 decades as a professional artist, creating fine-art murals for all types of settings, from healing murals in children’s hospitals to celebrity domiciles, as well as 2 decades devoted to the study and playing of Indigenous woodwinds.

Emiliano has 3 beloved children, 2 in The Netherlands and 1 in Heaven.

Coming from a feminist, Chicano family with a mother who worked with developmentally disabled children and a father who was an attorney for the oppressed, Service is in Emiliano’s DNA.

His heart was called into action by the Standing Rock (Hashtag #NoDAPL) protest in 2016 and the brutal mistreatment of his Native American relatives and their supporters and the violations of Sacred Waters. He soon became co-chair of the Santa Barbara Standing Rock Coalition and spearheaded the successful Divest Santa Barbara campaign, resulting in the City of Santa Barbara divesting $6.25 million from all banks funding the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, as well as passing a Socially Responsible Investment Policy for Santa Barbara, setting guidelines to keep the City free from unethical business investments.

In 2019, as co-chair of The Climate Mobilization (Santa Barbara Chapter), Emiliano co-authored the Declaration of Climate Emergency for Santa Barbara County, calling attention to the current environmental crisis.

Emiliano has also contributed to the spiritual community in many ways. For 3 years, he taught Coming-of-Age Religious Education at the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara and has organized many Interfaith gatherings with diverse local spiritual leaders.

Since 2018, seeing the need for a better understanding of environmental hazards, Emiliano became an air & water purification specialist dedicated to creating resilient communities in this time of need. This need guided him to organize the grassroots public health and safety initiative, The S.A.F.E. Plan (Sanitized Air for Everyone!), protecting homes and businesses to create healthier environments for all.

Rich Appelbaum, Ph.D.
Secretary

Rich is a retired UCSB Professor (officially retired in July 2014, after 42 years), where he shared the MacArthur Foundation Chair with Nelson Lichtenstein, where their research focused on workers’ rights throughout global supply chains – a focus that reflects his lifelong work and passion for social justice. At UCSB, he co-founded the Global & International Studies Program, and ran the two-year MA program, which sent students abroad for 6 months to work with NGOs and other organizations concerned with social justice, sustainability, and other good things! He also has been a part-time faculty member at Fielding Graduate University for many years, where he chairs the PhD concentration in Sustainability Leadership.

In Santa Barbara, he is involved with a number of organizations and projects that should be relevant to CLUE. He is a member of Congregation B’Nai Brith (CBB), and hopes to coordinate CLUE activities with CBB. He works on human trafficking issues with SB ACT, and in the past on homelessness with Social Venture Partners. He is on the Boards of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, the Fund for Refugee Initiatives/Chad Relief Foundation, and the Santa Barbara Gray Panthers. He is also the UCSB Faculty Lead for the UC-wide Disaster Resilience Network, which brings faculty, students, and community leaders together to address disaster related issues.

Ila Fennell
Treasurer

Ila is a recent graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she majored in Psychology and Brain Science and minored in Poverty, Inequality, and Social Justice. Through the Blum Center at her university, Ila interned with CLUE and subsequently became a member of the board. She brings a unique perspective with her multicultural background, innovative ideas, and representation of the younger generations.

While currently serving as treasurer, she is actively involved in our immigrant, environmental, and criminal justice workgroups. Outside of CLUE, Ila also works as a Legal Assistant for Hiller Law Group, a law firm focused on immigration law, civil rights, and federal whistleblower protection. And when she’s not hard at work, Ila enjoys tending to her garden, traveling, and spending time with her pets.

Diane Fox, Ph.D.
Board Member

Wayne Martin Mellinger, Ph.D.
Board Member

Wayne Martin Mellinger came to Santa Barbara to do graduate work in Sociology at UC-Santa Barbara and received his Ph.D in 1990. His areas of concentration include critical social theories, qualitative research methodologies and social psychology / micro-sociology. He subsequently taught at the Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Berkeley campuses of the University of California, the Fielding Graduate University, Ventura College and Antioch University Santa Barbara. He has long been interested in power, inequality, oppression and domination and is an outspoken social justice activist for numerous causes. Passionate about critical pedagogy, Wayne envisions classrooms as sites of liberation in which oppression can be unlearned and all can become “allies” in the struggles for social justice. A psychological breakdown in 1999 left him psychotic, addicted and living on the streets. Through these events Wayne discovered that he has bipolar disorder. Subsequently he worked as a social worker helping those with mental illness transition off the streets. He has worked for WillBridge of Santa Barbara, the Safe Parking Program, New Beginnings Counseling Center, Casa Esperanza (now PATH) and Transition House (where he managed their program on Homelessness Prevention). This journey has allowed him to bear witness to innumerable social injustices, and lead him to become involved in mental health and homeless policy issues. Wayne is committed to empowering those who are marginalized, displaced and silenced to have a voice in policy decisions at the community level. To those ends, he is active in community affairs and sits on the boards of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE SB), the County’s Behavioral Wellness Commission, the County’s Continuum of Care (housing policy for our unhoused neighbors) as well as the boards of Showers of Blessings, the Committee for Social Justice. He was greatly honored to join Social Venture Partners-Santa Barbara—a local think tank prominent on matters of housing and homelessness. Wayne has been a member of the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara since 2005. He has been exploring the intersections of science and religion in a series of essays on Religious Naturalism which he hopes to turn into a book, tentatively titled The New Religion of Nature: Re-Imagining Religion During the Anthropocene.

thedionysiannaturalist.blogspot.com.

Laura Pina, M.A. C.P.
Board Member

Ana Arce, B.A Sociology, Paralegal
Board Member

Leticia Trujillo, M.Div.
Board Member

Leticia was born and raised in Southern California. During her teenage years, she began demonstrating strong leadership qualities through her deep involvement in her Spanish-speaking church. Early on, she developed a profound awareness of the injustices and prejudices faced by Latino/a/x communities, including her own. This awareness became a driving force in her life, inspiring her to break barriers and uplift those she loves along the way.

As the first person in her family to attend college, Leticia earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science. Her passion for spirituality and faith—particularly at the intersection of social justice and community support—led her to pursue theological studies at Boston University. During this time, she connected with inspiring leaders who encouraged her to deepen her faith and expand her impact. She became actively involved in youth work, motivating young people to pursue higher education, and contributed to homelessness prevention efforts at one of Massachusetts’ oldest nonprofits, City Mission Boston. At every step of her journey, her purpose remained clear: to empower those on the margins and help build new possibilities for their futures.

Now living in Santa Barbara, a community that has warmly embraced her, Leticia continues to build on her commitment to service. Her professional experience spans homelessness services, advocacy, and community support, all of which have strengthened her belief that housing is a fundamental human right. She understands that failing to address the housing crisis—while placing blame on unhoused individuals—only deepens the problem and delays meaningful solutions.

Beyond her professional work, Leticia remains engaged in a variety of interests. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach or tending to her garden at home. She approaches life with curiosity, often exploring new hobbies and activities that bring her joy. By seeking beauty in her daily life, she renews her spirit and sustains her belief that meaningful change is always possible. Her hope is to continue uplifting communities, just as she has been supported throughout her own journey.

Carolyn Bjerke
Board Member – Advisory Board

Carolyn Bjerke is a passionate advocate for social justice, community engagement, and the arts. She is  deeply committed to creating inclusive spaces that uplift diverse voices. Born and raised in the Midwest, Carolyn’s journey in service and leadership began early, shaped by her experiences in both the arts and ministry.

Educated at the University of Southern California and the University of California, Irvine, Carolyn earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Master of Fine Arts in Musical Theater. Her love for music and performance evolved into a deep commitment to spiritual care and community building. Carolyn later pursued a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, where she honed her skills in pastoral counseling, worship leadership, and social justice advocacy.

As the Intern Minister at the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, Carolyn plays roles in the life of the congregation, leading worship, providing pastoral care, and contributing to community building efforts. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to inclusivieness and social justice, reflecting her belief in the power of collective action to create positive change.

Carolyn’s dedication to service extends beyond the church. As a Chaplain with Pacific Crest Hospice and the Ventura County Fire Department, she provides compassionate support to individuals and families navigating the challenges of grief, loss, and terminal illness. Her work in these roles underscores her deep empathy and understanding of the human experience.

Carolyn has spent nearly a decade as the Music Director at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, curating diverse, multicultural worship experiences. Her work in music ministry is a testament to her belief in the power of music to heal, inspire, and connect communities. Carolyn is honored to be a part of CLUE Santa Barbara, where she can continue her lifelong commitment to social justice and community engagement.