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Youth Leadership Team
ABOUT
Each year, 15 youth with diverse lived experiences are selected to join the Youth Leadership Team. Over the course of 10 months, Youth Leaders participate in the following activities:
- Working with a County employee as a mentor
- Gaining work experience in County departments
- Participating in County boards and commissions
- Organizing town halls to gather input on topics important to youth and young adults
- Serving as subject-matter experts to inform County programs and services
MEET THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP TEAM
In addition to County staff, the Youth Sector is comprised of Youth Sector Coordinators and the Youth Leadership Team. This group of young leaders advises, educates, and organizes around youth needs in San Diego County.
2025-2026 Youth Leadership Team
Youth Sector Coordinators
Abby Rollison
Abby Rollison (she/her) attended the University of California, San Diego and earned a B.S in Biology: Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution. As a Youth Sector Coordinator, she focuses on the development of professional skills and mentorship for the Youth Leadership Team. Previously, she worked as a teacher and enjoys the opportunity to continue working with young adults.
Vannie Nguyen
Vannie Nguyen (she/her) earned her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with Biology, Psychology, and Public Health specialization and is pursuing a M.S. in Health Data Science. With experience in student engagement, community advocacy, and research, Vannie hopes to connect Youth Leaders to professional development opportunities and promote youth advocacy and leadership in various decision-making processes.
Youth Leaders
Emily Le
Emily Le (she/her) earned her bachelor's degree in psychology with an emphasis in neuroscience and a minor in statistics from San Diego State University. She has a background in research and a deep passion for supporting marginalized communities and amplifying youth voices. Through the Youth Leadership Team, she hopes to learn about community-wide initiatives and develop greater professional skills within the public sector.
Hannah Benitez
Hannah Benitez (she/her) is currently attending Southwestern College in Chula Vista. She is studying public health with hopes to transfer to SDSU and pursue a career in nutrition or physical wellness. Through this program, Hannah hopes to network and make connections with people in the public health field as well as help her community in San Diego.
Henry Jiang
Henry Jiang (he/him) is part of the second highest orchestra in the San Diego Youth Symphony and has started two clubs at his school. Henry loves science and is still exploring, but he knows that he enjoys the biomedical and natural sciences fields. Through this program, Henry wants to gain a new perspective and experiences that he can use in future endeavors.
Johana Lopez
Johana Lopez (she/her) is studying public administration at Miramar Community College. She is passionate about public service and works with at-risk youth in underserved communities through mentorship and outreach. Johana hopes to expand these skills through the Youth Leadership Team by supporting initiatives to promote access to physical and mental health resources.
Mahshid Tabibi
Mahshid Tabibi (she/her) is passionate about healthcare and helping others, and she hopes to become a doctor or pediatrician in the future. Through the Youth Leadership Team, Mahshid wants to gain hands-on experience in a professional setting, develop leadership skills, and learn more about how public health systems support local communities.
Nallely Lopez Juarez
Nallely Lopez Juarez (she/her) aspires to help others, improve today’s healthcare system, and inform the community about resources and opportunities. She wants to become a public health nurse or nurse practitioner. Nallely plans to get her degree in nursing and a master’s in public health. Through this program, she wants to gain experience on all levels and improve her communication skills.
Riley Ross
Riley Ross (she/her) is a senior at The Bishop’s School. She is part of the Varsity Field Hockey team, leads the school’s Community Service Initiative and Black Student Union, and co-founded the Global HPV Vaccination Organization. She is looking to pursue a degree in urban development and planning, while also taking an interest in public health and economic infrastructure.
Seiyoung Bae
Seiyoung Bae (she/her) is an incoming junior at Torrey Pines High School. She is the vice president of finance in sports medicine, a member of the biology magazine club, and part of 1Must club. Through these experiences, she developed an interest in healthcare. Seiyoung hopes to pursue a future in the medical field, preferably as a sports psychologist, physician, dermatologist, or endodontist.
Sunny Park
Sunny Park (she/her) is a rising senior at Westview High School. She’s the president and founder of the Origami Club and the Speech Captain for her school’s Speech & Debate Club. She’s interested in studying human-computer interaction in college to pursue a career in UI/UX. Sunny wants to learn how to effectively communicate with team members, gain experience in the workforce, and speak for youth to make a positive impact in the city.
Tanya Pliego
Tanya Pliego (she/her) is an undergraduate student attending community college. She hopes to major in public administration to hopefully run her own non-profit organization one day, with a goal of serving her community and inspiring youth. Tanya hopes to make her parents proud, and to be able to make change and help others the way she was helped by her leaders.
Tiffany Luu
Tiffany Luu (she/her) is a freshman at San Diego State University, majoring in public health. She is interested in studying more about health policy, behavioral health, and management. Tiffany is also very involved with the Vietnamese community; she is a member of her school’s Vietnamese Student Association and volunteers at the Lac Hong Vietnamese Language and Cultural Center every weekend.
Yemaya Bruce
Yemaya Bruce (she/her) is a rising senior at Mission Bay High School. She is the president of the Kiwanis Key Club, a vocal soloist in the advanced jazz ensemble, and a co-founder of the nonprofit Mediums of Mental Health. Yemaya plans to major in neuroscience with a minor in global health and pursue a career as a pediatrician. She is excited to learn more about how policy is developed in the public health world and get hands-on experience working in public health clinics.
Yera Shin
Yera Shin (she/her) is a junior at the University of California, San Diego studying global health. She is fascinated by the intersection of the built environment and community wellbeing, with a particular interest in transit-oriented development. Joining the Department of Medical Care Services, she is thrilled to help bridge communication gaps and promote health equity for Medi-Cal recipients.