The Berkeley Path Wanderers Association’s board members serve for 2 years, with an option to renew one additional term. This board member structure works well to keep our leadership stable while bringing in new faces, ideas, and enthusiasm. In 2023 we say farewell — and many thanks! — to Janet Byron, president; Karen Ebadi, treasurer; John Ford, walks coordinator; and Jennifer Pellman, newsletter editor. Read on to meet our six new board members, who were voted in at our annual meeting in November: Eileen Chen, Dhara Desai, Desmid Lyon, Lori Kohlstaedt, Kirsten Mickelwait, and Emma Morris.
Eileen Chen (Web/Newsletter/Social media) is pursuing a master's in city planning at UC Berkeley with a concentration in urban networks and healthy cities. She just graduated from the University of Southern California with a dual degree in environmental studies and journalism, and a minor in GIS and sustainability science. Having engaged with the City of Los Angeles as a researcher and reporter, where she walked 60+ neighborhoods and 100+ stairs through field work and interviews, Eileen looks forward to exploring the hidden hillside paths of Berkeley and connecting with its communities.
In 2020, Dhara Desai (Treasurer) relocated to Berkeley, and a year later she discovered her nest in the Berkeley Hills. She pursued a degree in computer engineering at San Jose State University and, following graduation, embarked on a career as a software engineer, a role that often keeps her tethered to her desk for extended hours. A neighbor introduced Dhara to the beautiful paths that wind through the Berkeley Hills. Inspired by their suggestion, she made a commitment to explore every path in the area. This year, she walked all the paths in Berkeley with the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association. She is excited to contribute to the group's efforts in maintaining and further developing these paths, which bring us close to nature everyday.
Desmid Lyon (Walks Coordinator) grew up in Berkeley with a dad who took the family on weekly excursions to climb in Berkeley’s rock parks or walk in its hills, which reminded him of his childhood home in Königsberg. Desmid worked as a technical translator, editor of environmental impact reports/statements, and social worker and special education teacher. She discovered Berkeley Path Wanderers in 2014, when friends’ children Jacob Lehman-Duke and Aviva Gerwein planned and led six hikes covering every path in Berkeley. She's been a devotee of the paths and the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association ever since.
Lori Kohlstaedt (Maps Coordinator) a former president, became aware of Path Wanderers in 2004 shortly after she returned to Berkeley. She had been only vaguely aware of the paths while completing her PhD at Cal in the mid 1980s. After her return she served on the board in various capacities in the following decade and now returns to coordinate the map program.
Kirsten Mickelwait (Newsletter Editor) returned to the East Bay in 2020 after 20 years spent raising her family in the Napa Valley. Having attended UC Berkeley as an English major, she built a 45-year career as a writer and editor for the university (both in-house and as a freelancer), and retired in January 2023 from the College of Engineering. During COVID, as a way to spend time outdoors, she independently walked every path on the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association’s map.
Emma Morris (Events) was born and raised in Berkeley. She got to know the paths the way young people do — by using them as the primary way to get around town and to friend's houses. Her father was a local real estate broker, so she also grew up keenly aware of the special character of Berkeley's architecture and urban landscape. She, too, has been a local Realtor for 22 years now. She first joined the Path Wanderers board early on and became the group's second president. She is now excited to rejoin the board supporting BPWA's participation in many events, including the annual meeting and the Solano Stroll.