Dean Purvis

For Women’s History Month, PCSD highlighted the many extraordinary women who guide our charter school partners through the complex facilities development process so our partners can focus on what matters most – teaching and learning.

How long have you worked at PCSD?

9 1/2 years

How did you get into the field of facility development and education?

I moved to LA after finishing grad school in urban planning. Several people suggested I look into LAUSD’s large capital projects bond program at the time. I started in New Construction and then moved to the Real Estate Department. LAUSD was acquiring and developing sites for a large number of new school construction projects, and I worked as a project manager managing site selection, due diligence, and design for new schools in South LA. After LAUSD, I moved to Long Beach Unified School District’s bond program and worked on major renovations and new construction projects. Then I joined PCSD. I’ve been building facilities for schools for a long time now. Although I got into this career by chance, my background as a generalist in urban planning and design and environmental studies has been helpful in my work.

What advice would you give young women entering this field?

It’s good to have and to work toward a professional goal, but stay open to unplanned career opportunities that may come up along the way.

For Women’s History Month, PCSD highlighted the many extraordinary women who guide our charter school partners through the complex facilities development process so our partners can focus on what matters most – teaching and learning.

How long have you worked at PCSD?

6 months

How did you get into the field of facility development and education?

I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in geology. While in college, I started working part time drafting for a Civil Engineering and Land Surveying firm. My career followed the Civil Engineering path starting in design of schools, housing, commercial development and public infrastructure for over 35 years. I am a registered Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor, former Public Works Director and manager at BART. Through my work, I held positions on the public and private sector sides working directly with the public as part of community-based planning and design and infrastructure management. Some of my most fulfilling projects have been to land grants and oversee permitting and design of community centers, schools, and public and private infrastructure serving undeserved communities.

Throughout my career, I have given my time and support to a number of nonprofit organizations. I volunteered with Odyssey of the Mind, was on the board of Rotary, Planning Commission and was a Girl Scout troop leader and Association Coordinator. When I retired from the public sector, I wanted to find an opportunity where I could combine my philanthropic interests with my technical background. When I saw the opportunity at PCSD, it seemed like a dream come true. PCSD is a place that truly understands diversity. My family and I believe it’s important to move the needle and create a more balanced world. We believe education is where it’s going to happen!

What advice would you give young women entering this field?

We have to support other women and encourage them to take chances and make mistakes. It’s important to have all voices heard. A few tips that have helped me in my career:

You should never say you are sorry.
Always do your best.
Ask questions.
Let your voice be heard.
Don’t ever apologize for bringing up questions.
Be the voice for other women.
Confirm other women’s ideas publicly.

For Women’s History Month, PCSD highlighted the many extraordinary women who guide our charter school partners through the complex facilities development process so our partners can focus on what matters most – teaching and learning.

How long have you worked at PCSD?

4 years

How did you get into the field of facility development and education?

After undergrad, I worked with Teach for America in Memphis and got a chance to teach and saw first-hand the devastation of education in underserved communities. After law school, I had always been interested in real estate so I joined a firm focused on real estate finance. While there, I attended a women in real estate event and one of the fellow attendees told me about the opportunity at PCSD. I knew it was the perfect blend of real estate and serving these communities that were trying to improve education. It was by chance and through networking that I was able to find this position.

What advice would you give young women entering this field?

Be willing to put yourself out there and be assured that you are equally capable and equally deserving. Don’t sit back and think others know more. You know just as much or more and deserve to have your voice heard. Ask the questions.

For Women’s History Month, PCSD highlighted the many extraordinary women who guide our charter school partners through the complex facilities development process so our partners can focus on what matters most – teaching and learning.

How long have you worked at PCSD?

11 months

How did you get into the field of facility development and education?

I worked at Cushman & Wakefield managing facility projects for PG&E. I came from a sports background and my hiring manager had a similar experience. He knew that I had the rigor to do the work in facility development. I did similar work for a few years with a couple of different clients, including Google and Salesforce. It got to the point where I loved what I was doing, but I wasn’t fulfilled so I started looking at the nonprofit side. I saw the job announcement for PCSD and did an informational interview with Anna Olsen in San Francisco. The position was similar to what I was doing but more aligned with my passion in helping other people.

What advice would you give young women entering this field?

Be confident but humble! Don’t be afraid to ask for help on items you’re not familiar with.

For Women’s History Month, PCSD highlighted the many extraordinary women who guide our charter school partners through the complex facilities development process so our partners can focus on what matters most – teaching and learning.

How long have you worked at PCSD?

8 years

How did you get into the field of facility development and education?

I was working in architecture and design, then got my Master’s in Real Estate Development and switched over to the complex financing of real estate through tax credit structures. It was my time at a tax credit investor that I met PCSD and I liked the mission and its people. I’ve seen a ton of great projects in my hometown.

What advice would you give young women entering this field?

Don’t only get into real estate when the markets are good; anyone can do that. Lean in to real estate work outs, bankruptcies, restructuring of business and debt deals. There’s a ton of experience to be gained when the markets are bad.

For Women’s History Month in March 2022, PCSD is proud to highlight the many extraordinary women who guide our charter school partners through the complex facilities development process, leading and driving the work so our partners can stay focused on what matters most – teaching and learning.

Sherise Henderson, Project Manager, Southern California

Deniz Ilgen, Senior Project Manager, Southern California

Tina Lin, Director of Finance

Mary Grace Houlihan, Project Director, Northern California

Mera Baker Ramos, General Counsel

Anna Johnson, Senior Project Manager, Washington

Hope Fang, Director of Finance

Anna Olsen, Senior Project Manager, Northern California