Leadership Dinner: Pat Bresee

Leadership Dinners bring proven leaders from various arenas together with a small group of graduate students for dinner and informal discussion about what it means to be a leader and to lead organizations, movements, and people. 

Pat Bresee, former superior court commissioner

A recognized expert in Juvenile Law, the Honorable Patricia Bresee (ret.) has devoted most of her professional life to children’s issues.  When in private practice, she represented children in juvenile courts who had been neglected or abused or who had been accused of committing a crime, and children who were caught in the middle of custody battles in family court.  Serving as a Superior Court Commissioner in San Mateo County for 15 years, she was assigned to sit as a Juvenile Court Judge, and handled dependency and delinquency matters, as well as adoptions and guardianships.  As an original member of the California Judicial Council Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee, she served as Chair of the Juvenile Law Rules and Forms Committee.  In 1994 Commissioner Bresee was named Juvenile Court Judge of the Year by the California Judges Association, and in 1998 the National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) awarded her the title of Judge of the Year.  She served two terms on the San Mateo County First Five Commission.  She is a Consultant to the  Judicial Council Center for Families and Children in the Courts, and other public and private agencies.  Previously serving as Chair of the Board of Directors  of California CASA, she is also the chair of the Advisory Council of Ravenswood Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center. At present, she serves as Vice-Chair of the National CASA Board of Directors. She is an American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley Senior Fellow.  As Chair of the Peninsula Community Foundation Board, she participated in the negotiations for, and implementation of the merger with Community Foundation Silicon Valley, and in January 2008 completed a term as Chair of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation Board of Directors.   In addition, she is a consultant to non-profit boards on governance and organization.

Please Note:
Leadership Dinners have limited seating. If you are accepted you must confirm your place by submitting a Student Participation Fee Agreement, which authorizes VPGE to charge $50 to your Stanford bill – only if you do not fully participate in the event.