Lalit Acharya directed and managed the City of Riverside mayor’s efforts on international initiatives, economic development, and sustainability.

Lalit had a Bachelor of Science in Genetics from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, a Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a doctorate in Communication from the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California. He was also a 2004 Leadership Riverside graduate.

Rose Mayes is a community activist who has over 30 years of experience in business management, civil rights, and fair housing. She is involved in the community as a professional and community volunteer. Her work extends from grassroots community-based organizations, to public administrators, to local State and Federal elected officials.

Rose serves as executive director of the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc., a position she has held since 1993. She is committed to promoting fair housing opportunities for all regardless of race, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability. Ms. Mayes is an influential community leader who has served on numerous boards and commissions at the local and regional levels. In 2015 she was named Woman of the Year for the 61st Assembly District.

Surekha (Su) Acharya is an Associate Professor of English at Riverside City College. Originally from India, Su has a master’s degree in English from Osmania University, India; an MA in Broadcast Journalism from Cal State Fullerton; and a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from UC Riverside.

She has served on the boards of the Riverside Public Library, Riverside Metropolitan Museum, and the City’s Cultural Heritage Board. She is currently a board member of the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California, Inlandia Institute, and the International Relations Council. Su has been a resident of Riverside since 1991. She is married to Lalit Acharya, has two daughters and two grand children.

Jane Carney is a retired corporate and business lawyer, having practiced in the Inland Empire for 33 years. She currently is a founding director of The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California as well as the treasurer of All Saints Episcopal Church, Riverside. Jane previously served for six years as a trustee of the California State University and for 12 years on the governing board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Jane was the first member from the Inland Empire on the board of the James Irvine Foundation. She has been active in a number of local organizations, including the Monday Morning Group of Western Riverside County, the Riverside County Bar Association, and the Riverside Community College District. She is the mother of three adult children and three grandchildren.

Ronald O. Loveridge is a respected public servant, educator, and civic leader with more than 33 years of service to the City of Riverside, including 15 years as Mayor (1994–2012) and 15 years on the City Council (1979–1994). A recognized leader at the local, state, and national levels, he served as President of both the National League of Cities and the League of California Cities. Loveridge continues to serve in leadership roles with numerous regional organizations while teaching political science at the University of California, Riverside. He is also a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.