Board of Trustees

The 2023 Yo San University Board is comprised of 12 Trustees representing a broad cross-section of healthcare, business, and educational expertise. Duties and responsibilities of the Board of Trustees are defined in the YSU bylaws. The Board is charged with establishing broad institutional policy and direction, ensuring that the mission of the University is met through proper institutional governance, and stewarding the University’s fiscal resources. The Board also appoints the YSU president, who serves as liaison between the Board and the University community. Yo San University’s Board meets quarterly, in addition to an annual strategic planning retreat, and has an active working committee structure. Trustees receive no compensation for their role in institutional governance.

The Board also includes a faculty representative and student representative, both of whom serve for a one-year term. In addition, the University has named five individuals to its non-voting Honorary Board.

Trustees

Mao Shing Ni, PhD, DOM L.Ac.   (Institutional Member / Co-founder)

Dr. Mao is a private practitioner and co-owner of Tao of Wellness, based in Santa Monica, CA. He is a founder of Yo San University, and has decades of experience as a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine with a specialty in Healthy Aging. Dr. Mao is the author of many books, including his popular Secrets of Longevity series, and has received numerous professional awards. Dr. Mao has lectured internationally and has been featured in print media, radio and television, notably The Dr. Oz Show.

Daoshing Ni, PhD, DOM L.Ac.   (Institutional Member / Co-founder)

Dr. Dao is a private practitioner and co-owner of Tao of Wellness, based in Santa Monica, CA. He is a co-founder and faculty member of Yo San University and chairs the Women’s Health and Reproductive Medicine department in the DAOM doctoral program. Eminent and respected for his special interest in reproductive and gynecological conditions, Dr. Dao is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Pacific Coast Fertility Society, and American Association of Oriental Medicine. Dr. Dao is the author of Tao of Fertility and co-author of Sitting Moon: A Guide to Rejuvenation after Pregnancy and recipient of many professional awards.

Sum-Yee Wang, MA   (Institutional Member / Co-founder)

Ms. Wang is a founding member of the Board of Trustees of Yo San University and served as the University’s CFO from its inception in 1989. Ms. Wang brings to the Board her strong business sense and strategic planning experience.  At Yo San University, Ms. Wang led the accounting, financial aid, cash flow management, payroll and budgeting systems.  She also served as CFO of the Tao of Wellness for ten years, overseeing financial operations as well as personnel, audits and compliance with governmental and professional agencies.  Currently, she is a practicing a Marriage & Family Therapist in Santa Monica. Ms. Wang holds a BS in business administration from the University of Southern California, and a MA in psychology from Antioch University.

Lauren Stomel, Board Chair

Mr. Stomel is a marketing and technology executive. As CEO of Lauren Stomel Advertising he oversaw brand strategy and design for clients like U.S. Army/Air Force Exchange Services, DeBeers Group (Supplier of Choice), and Rio Tinto Diamonds among others. With a career spanning over three decades, he pioneered the sales of luxury goods online for many of the nation’s top retailers. Most recently he has contributed to web based learning initiatives in the areas of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders as well as continuing education in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Rebekah Frushtick, JD Board Chair-elect

Ms. Frushtick represents clients in a wide range of both State and Federal civil matters including First Amendment rights. She received her Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School.

Phillip Christman, III., MA  (Public Member)

Mr. Christman is founder and president of Avaunt Performance, Inc. based in Atlanta, GA and International Partner, Harrison Assessments LTD. A business consultant committed to helping clients unlock performance potential, he works with executives to align business and talent strategies and helps leaders select, evaluate and coach their teams to achieve growth oriented goals. Mr. Christman’s expertise includes: executive coaching and assessment, team development and strategy execution. Phillip regularly conducts leadership development workshops, in addition to facilitating management team strategic planning retreats.

Margo P. DeLeaver, MD   (Institutional Member / Faculty)

Dr. DeLeaver is a pediatrician/adolescent medicine physician in private practice and a strong proponent of integrative medicine. She received her medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and is on the medical staffs of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Southern California Hospital at Culver City. Dr. DeLeaver, who has a particular interest in ADD/ADHD, is both a Yo San University graduate and faculty member in the Western Biomedical department.

Daphne Hsiao, MBA   (Public Member)

Ms. Hsiao has been an executive in both the real estate and fashion industries. She has a broad view of international markets from having worked with companies in China, Taiwan, Japan, Europe, and the US. Ms. Hsiao  currently lives in Los Angeles, and continues to work in the real estate field as the Managing Director of Commercial Real Estate at Gemdale USA. Her vision is to strengthen the connection between the US and Asia via foreign capital investments and through the expansion of business ideas across those borders. Ms. Hsiao received a MBA degree from Leicester University.

Simone Rubin, JD   (Public Member)

Ms. Rubin is presently the Employment Counsel with Snap. Inc. She has previously worked as an attorney and as legal counsel for several commercial as well as non-profit organizations, including the non-profit Asian Pacific American Legal Center, where she worked on behalf of and negotiated for consumers.  She received both her bachelor’s and law degree at University of California, Berkeley.

Toshino Yuhaku, MBA   (Public Member)

An able leader and consensus-builder with extensive strategic management and technology experience, Ms. Yuhaku was with Sony for two decades, most recently as senior vice president for Corporate Alliances in its 3D technology center. Previous positions at Sony provided diverse industry exposure in motion pictures and television, home entertainment, online businesses, video-gaming, and customer and professional hardware and software businesses. Toshino is noted for managing cross-functional and multi-cultural projects, and leading technology innovation. She earned her bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from UCLA and received an MBA from Harvard Business School.