James Romero- Senior Manager, Technical Program Management / Board President

Romero, James New

James is a high tech professional in Silicon Valley for over 35 years. He currently works as a Senior Manager at a tech company. James has worked with reputable fortune 500 companies, including General Electric Medical, Apple, Logitech and Amazon, among others. His scope of work in product development, Quality, Reliability Compliance and Operations.
Along with his high tech career, James has been committed to University Preparatory Academy serving on the Board of Trustees since 2006. In April 2019, James was elected to Board President.

James holds a BSET in Electronics Engineering Technology from DeVry University.

Patrick Dunkley - Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior University Counsel / Board Secretary

Dunkley, Patrick Head Shot

Patrick Dunkley is Deputy Athletics and Senior University Counsel at a university. He oversees human resources, legal affairs, legislative matters, NCAA compliance and risk management. Dunkley is also the sport administrator for, baseball and men’s soccer. He joined the athletics staff after nearly a decade of serving the university as a member of the Office of the General Counsel.

Dunkley began his legal career with Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP (now, Pillsbury Winthrop) in 1990. Mr. Dunkley’s private law practice included extensive litigation experience and jury trials. He also advised companies from Fortune 50 companies to start- ups on a wide variety of legal matters. After leaving Pillsbury, Dunkley joined Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., a market leader in the securities broker-dealer industry, where he was a Vice President and Senior Corporate Counsel.

Prior to commencing his legal career, Mr. Dunkley received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting after which he earned a Certified Public Accountant license and practiced as a CPA for seven years. Dunkley’s responsibilities as Senior

University Counsel have included advising the University on tax, tax exempt bond financing, accounting, real estate, trademark, faculty-staff housing, overseas studies, risk management, advising on a wide variety of other business issues, managing outside counsel in litigation matters and providing legal advice and counsel to the Office of Technology Licensing and Management.

In addition to his role as a member of the UPA board, Mr. Dunkley is a member of the board of directors of two different organizations.

Robert Hernandez – Senior Vice President and Group Manager / Board Treasurer

Hernandez, Robert Board Headshot

Robert Hernandez is a Senior Vice President and Group Manager with over 20-years of experience working with the high tech industry.

Robert earned his BS in Finance at San Jose State University.

Darnella Aulani – Darnella Real Estate Founder / Board Advisor

Aulani, Darnella Headshot

Darnella Aulani is an experienced board member with 13 consecutive years, serving on the largest Board in the State of California. She has extensive policy and governance experience serving as President, President Elect, and Treasurer of a couple of associations and as member/Chair of 70+ committees State, National and Local level throughout her career. She provides oversight of the associations; financial management, minimize exposure to risk, measure progress on strategic plan, monitor programs and services, provide legal and moral oversight and evaluate the CEO/AE.

With 27+ Years’ Experience in the real estate industry, she has a proven professional track record in her area of expertise and is a respected leader in her field.

Her educational track record includes a Master’s Degree in Education Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.

Tony Lustig - Senior Operating Executive / Board Advisor

Lustig, Tony Headshot

Tony Lustig has a record in corporate leadership and entrepreneurial ventures that achieved significant business and financial results with increases in shareholder value. He has over 25 years’ experience in Government Services, Aerospace & Defense, Disruptive Technologies, Consumer, Life Sciences and accomplished global partnerships, investments and M&A worth over $24 billion in value.

Currently, Tony serves a Venture Partner and has recently served as interim CFO at a consumer audio and music company. Formerly, Tony was Chief Investment Officer for a private equity fund that focuses on early stage Life Sciences, Advanced Technology, and Material Science.

Prior, Tony held the roles of CEO of Rural Investments Ltd, Managing Director for Asia- Pacific at Erickson, Inc., and Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at Lockheed Martin Space. Earlier, Tony headed up the west coast Transaction Integration practice for KPMG.

He earned his MBA in Financial Services Investments from Golden Gate University, and a BS in Aeronautical Operations from San Jose State University.