BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jason Bell

Jason Bell, M.S.

President

Jason Bell has dedicated more than 20 years of his life to better understanding the motivations of crime, punishment and the legal system. He is currently an adjunct professor in the Department of Criminal Justice, Sociology and Counseling at San Francisco State University. Starting as program director at SF State Project Rebound in 2005, Bell became regional director of the then-nine Project Rebound chapters in 2016. Since 2019, he has served as both executive director at SF State and director of programs for the CSU Project Rebound Consortium, comprising 19 campuses.

Jason Bell, M.S.

With an extensive history of working with the prison and jail population, Bell – himself formerly incarcerated for nearly 10 years – has worked with the community beyond campus borders, helped establish the San Francisco Safe Communities Reentry Council, and assisted programs modeled after Project Rebound at Rutgers University, Portland State University, and UNLV. Bell serves on the board of directors of the SF State University Corporation and as an advisory board member of the California System-Involved Bar Association, the Prison Law Office https://prisonlaw.com/, and the Justice Reinvestment Coalition https://www.jrcofac.org/. He earned his M.S. degree in counseling from SF State University and continues to counsel students both in and after prison.

Jason Bell, M.S.

George Turner

George Turner, M.A.

Vice Chair

George Turner is director of Project Rebound at SF State. He has more than 20 years of experience in intensive wrap-around case management, conflict resolution, violence prevention, cognitive-behavioral training, group facilitation and substance-use disorder counseling. Turner is also the founding executive director of Phatt Chance Community Services, a Bay Area non-profit that provides transitional-housing resources to individuals returning to the community after incarceration. An Oakland native, he earned a master’s degree in gerontology from SF State University.

Brandon Kline

Brandon Kline, J.D., LL.M.

Board Secretary and General Counsel

Brandon A. Kline is an Of Counsel attorney at Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK). A skilled litigator, Brandon provides counsel and defense across a wide array of matters. Prior to BBK, his participation in the Presidential Leadership Scholar program, a national initiative launched jointly by former US Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, inspired him to establish the Rebound Institute Legal Clinic, aiming for deeper social impact. Brandon also holds roles as General Counsel to the Rebound Institute Corporation and as Board Secretary.
Brandon Kline, J.D., LL.M.
Alongside his legal practice, he contributes to the development of future attorneys as a visiting professor of law at the University of California, Davis School of Law. Before entering private practice, Brandon served as a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice, and previously held positions as Associate Director of Environmental Programs at SF State and as a manager of institutional advocacy communications at the University of California President’s Office. He has clerked at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and the U.S. Department of Justice (Portland). Kline earned his J.D./LL.M. in Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Law at Lewis & Clark Law School, where he currently serves on the alumni board of directors. Brandon is admitted to practice law in California and Washington, as well as all California federal courts, including the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Brandon Kline, J.D., LL.M.

Wendy Bloom

Wendy Bloom, MLA

Chair

Wendy Bloom was director of campus planning at SF State University until her retirement in 2019. A supporter of Project Rebound, she has continued to work with leadership on planning the Rebound Institute. During her 12 years at SF State, she played a key role in the campus master plan and subsequent major building projects, including the Mashouf Wellness Center, the George and Judy Marcus Hall for the Liberal and Creative Arts, and the new science building. Bloom received her master’s degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University.

Hamid Ghaemmaghami, MBA

Chief Financial Officer

Hamid Ghaemmaghami is executive director of real-estate development for SF State University. He previously held similar management responsibilities for the cities of Palo Alto, Oakland and East Palo Alto (Redevelopment Agency) for two decades. Working in many diverse communities, he has completed major projects that have benefited the Bay Area. Ghaemmaghami has also served on the board of directors of Rebuilding Together Oakland and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. A licensed real-estate broker, he received a Certificate in Real Estate Development from UC San Diego and his MBA from SF State University.

Robert S. Nelsen, Ph.D.

Robert S. Nelsen, Ph.D.

Member

Robert S. Nelson served as Sacramento State’s eighth president from March 2015 through July 2023. Prior to arriving in Sacramento, Nelsen spent the better part of three decades in the University of Texas system.

His experience in public higher education spans nearly three decades, most of it spent in the University of Texas system. He was president of UT-Pan American from 2010 to 2014 and most recently served as special advisor to UT’s executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Robert S. Nelsen, Ph.D.

During Dr. Nelsen's time at Sacramento State, the university purchased two homes to house eight formerly incarcerated students who are attending the school. The homes, managed by Project Rebound, allowed formerly incarcerated students to gain stability while pursuing their goal of higher learning. Program participants came from heavily disadvantaged backgrounds. Often locked up for decades, they have no history of credit, work experience, or a way to take care of their basic needs.

At Sac State, he also improved graduation and retention rates, and success followed. Under his leadership, the University achieved 187% increase in the number of students who graduated within four years. Sac States performance in the CSUs Graduation 2025 initiative is among the best in the system.

With Nelsens oversight, the University surpassed its On The Rise fundraising goals, raising $239 million in its first comprehensive campaign. He celebrated completion of major campus projects, including the funding, construction and 2019 opening of the Ernest E. Tschannen Science Complex, and the Planetarium next to it. Nelsen also was instrumental in the creation of Sac States Antiracism and Inclusive Campus Plan, which is guiding the University toward its goal of creating a campus culture that is fair and welcoming to all.

Nelsen earned his doctorate from the University of Chicago's Committee on Social Thought.

Robert S. Nelsen, Ph.D.

ADVISORS TO THE BOARD

Linda Covello

Linda Covello, Finance

Linda Covello supports the board with streamlining financial practices and budget development and financial reporting. Linda has 16 years of experience working with California non-profit organizations in all areas related to finance. She has a BA degree in accounting from Brandman University and a Chief Business Officials’ certificate from California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO). She enjoys working with budgets because the numbers tell a story of where the organization has been and where it is going in conjunction with its mission and vision.

Ezra Leader

Ezra Leader, Communications

Ezra Leader is a business development manager at 3XN Architects in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ezra supports the Rebound Institute in areas of graphics, communications, and branding, bringing their 10+ years of experience in business development and marketing. Prior to their move to Denmark, Ezra worked for several award-winning architecture firms in San Francisco including Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Ezra holds a BA in art history from Hampshire College.

Architectural Consulting from Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

For architectural-consulting services to the Rebound Institute, Marsha Maytum, AIA, LEED AP, as partner, guided the preliminary study, and John Son, as project designer, provided the detailed work of developing and presenting the concept, including design and graphics.