2025 School on Wheels Volunteer Council Members

Lisa Abraham – Los Angeles County

Lisa Abraham is an economist at RAND and a professor of policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. She completed her Ph.D. in economics at Harvard University in May 2020. Prior to her Ph.D., she obtained an MSc in Economics and Management from the London School of Economics and a B.A. in mathematics and economics from Wellesley College. She was previously the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the Treasury Department and an investment banking analyst at J.P. Morgan. In her free time, Lisa enjoys taking improv classes, cooking for her friends, and running with the L.A. Leggers (a running group on the westside).

Christopher Changprai – Los Angeles County

Greetings, community members of School On Wheels!  I discovered SOW when I was an Engineering at Raytheon (now RTX), browsing through their volunteer website looking for ideas to participate and give back to the local community.  SOW was a great fit for me as I recalled how much I enjoyed working with my niece, Chloe, on her educational growth. Reading about the family stories on the SOW website it gave me pause on how challenging it would be for a parent, already struggling, to keep their child on track with school.  While my niece did not have the usual stable family situation, she was fortunate to have other family help that kept enough balance that she will be graduating from college this Spring.  My purpose with SOW is to provide if just a fraction, of the tutoring and mentoring experience I had with Chloe to a family in need. Fast forward about eight years later, I am proud to still be a SOW tutor and engaging with SOW staff on recruiting and engagement. 

About myself, I am from a first generation, immigrated parents from Thailand.  My early seven years were in Bangkok, where I had a pet rooster and hen.  My remaining years were in Southern California, where I attended UC Irvine and UC Los Angeles for my undergraduate and graduate degrees.   I live in Santa Monica where I enjoy taking walks with my wife, Lily, and carrying my daughter on my shoulder, tutoring, and playing beach volleyball.

Chris Ruoff – Orange County

In 2016, I joined School on Wheels as a volunteer tutor/coordinator and found a purpose at the intersection of two of my passions: education and serving the needy. Being able to tutor and mentor kids experiencing homelessness has meant the world to me and to them. I had no idea how impactful I could be in doing this. Every day I tutor – I leave knowing I’ve made a big difference in a student’s life.

Serving on SOW’s Volunteer Council will allow me to best utilize my skills in leadership, recruiting, and connecting people – so that we can together strengthen the mission of SOW and make such a great impact where it is desperately needed.

I’m currently an adjunct instructor at UC Irvine and teach both undergraduate and graduate students who are studying abroad in the U.S. I teach business skills such as management and leadership, finance, international business and operations, strategic planning, and corporate communications. Prior to that, I had a successful career in technology as a business development executive at Intel and IEEE. 

I hope my story is an inspiration to others to serve and make a difference. Mark Twain once said: “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” I know my “why” and want to connect and serve with others who share the same passion.

Fun fact: I’ve taught students from 32 different countries while at UCI over the last five years!

Jacqueline Hantgan – Los Angeles County

Jacqueline has decades of experience working in patient and medical research advocacy, community outreach, education, and development. She served as a member of the successful 2004 campaign for California’s Proposition 71 which formed the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and provided $3 billion for stem cell and related research to develop therapies and cures for chronic illness and disease. Following numerous other senior level and management roles in organizations globally, she returned to California’s stem cell effort as a senior staff member on the YES on 14: Californians for Stem Cell Research, Treatments, and Cures Initiative in 2020, which secured an additional $5.5 billion in funding for CIRM. Following the campaign, she served as Director of Outreach and Advocacy at Americans for Cures.

Jacqueline graduated from Tulane University with a BA in Anthropology and continued her studies at Teachers College, Columbia University with a Masters in Education and Anthropology. Jacqueline is a licensed realtor with Coldwell Banker. She completed a program in Alternative Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine’s Caruso School of Law and is a mediator.

Jacqueline is the board chair of Beyond Fistula, a nonprofit organization based in Eldoret, Kenya that helps obstetric fistula survivors heal and rebuild their lives after surgery through counseling, vocational training, and scholarships. She is a founding board member of Kavod, a non-profit tzedakah collective which is dedicated to protecting human dignity. She has been a volunteer tutor for School on Wheels since 2013 and is the Advocacy Co – Chair of her Hadassah chapter in Los Angeles.

Frankie Olvera – Los Angeles County

My name is Frankie Olvera. Long time tutor, first time Council Member. I am glad to be part of this new group and look forward to making a difference. Speaking of making a difference, I have always believed that I was called for service to others. I have spent the last 30 years (yikes, I’m getting older) doing things like mentoring minors at Juvenile Hall in Downtown, working and speaking to the residents at the food kitchen of Los Angeles Mission, and, of course, my time at School on Wheels. After I met Agnes Stevens, I knew this group had a purpose. A purpose that, unfortunately, is still needed today more than ever.

To say I enjoy tutoring is an understatement. I don’t know who gets a bigger kick out of it, the student or me! Mostly, I enjoy the chaos. I have never had the opportunity to do “one on one” with students. Every place that SOW has placed me involves many more kids than tutors. While it is a challenge to provide 100% attention to each child like a one-on-one, I have strived to make each child feel like they are getting 100% from me. Fortunately, I have been surrounded by some seriously awesome tutors by my side, who likewise realize that being outnumbered doesn’t have to mean being overwhelmed.

Things about me? I’m an Industrial Engineer, I have played events as a DJ, I was a basketball coach for kids, I am an avid soccer fan, and my latest activity I have learned to be a Mixologist (cocktails). As a Dad of three adult kids, I try to “keep it real”.

Folu Oyefeso –  Online Regions

Folu Oyefeso, PhD, is an advocate for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education programs and has been a tutor with School On Wheels for 10+ years. Through volunteer work and community initiatives he has contributed to expanding access to high-quality STEM education for underserved and unhoused youth. His student leadership activities and participation in educational and community initiatives reflect his deep commitment to service, faith, and family, with an emphasis on character-focused development.
As a scientific advisor for clinical and academic institutions, he helps translate life sciences research into viable therapeutic platforms, supporting the work of biotech companies and philanthropic networks focused on treating dementia. With professional experience leading interdisciplinary teams and navigating complex environments, he remains deeply committed to one-on-one and group tutoring for students ranging from early learners to graduate scholars.

Judy Spilka – Ventura County

Hi! I’m Judy Spilka. I hold an MA in English from California State University Northridge, where I’ve taught Freshman Composition in addition to working as a consultant in the Writing Center. I believe that education is a life-long journey, and I continue to take classes, focusing especially on subjects within the Humanities. Aligned with my love of learning is that of teaching. The impact of Covid 19 has been devastating for students in general, with analyses of test scores repeatedly showing severe declines in academic achievement. For those experiencing homelessness, the number grows exponentially higher. Tutoring students through School on Wheels has enabled me to help change that trajectory, one child at a time. And as any volunteer knows, the time spent giving to another human translates to a sense of purpose unrivalled by any other endeavor. On another note, I share my life with a wonderful, growing family, and I share with home with a brilliant husband and a marvelous 80-pound black Labrador who thinks he’s a lap dog!