Vivien Larsen, Co-Founder, Honorary Board Member

Vivien Larsen is a co-founder of Avanzando and was a member of the Ohlone College Board of Trustees, representing Newark from 2011 until her untimely passing. Larsen was a former high school counselor at Newark Memorial and Vice-Principal at Newark Junior High, having previously taught and held administrative positions in the Oakland public schools and at CSU Hayward (now CSU East Bay). She was instrumental in helping to transition many of her students to college and in helping to implement high school to career pathways into various STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines.    

Recipient of many awards, the most recent from Congressman Ro Khanna for Community Involvement and Service in 2019.  Assembly Member Kansen Chu awarded her the Community Hero award in 2018. Students at Newark Memorial recognized Vivien as an “Everyday Hero” for her services to students and families. The Immigrant Institute recognized Vivien as an Outstanding Immigrant to the Bay Area. Vivien served in many service and educational non-profit organizations and contributed to many projects that benefit students to continue on to higher education after graduation and families in Newark.