Our Advisory Board

Dr. Clifton Cole is a family practitioner with an emphasis in hospice & palliative care. He is a Hospice Medical Director for Mission Hospice.

He graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1981 and completed a family medicine residency at University of California Irvine Medical Center. He is board certified in Family Medicine, and Hospice/Palliative Care with more than 40 years in practice.

Dr. Cole is a frequent lecturer on hospice and palliative care for Traveling the Journey Together, a program developed by Alzheimers Coachella Valley for those with dementia and their care partners.

His hobbies include all kinds of outdoor activities, quiet time in the mountains or beaches, and playing music. He is guitarist and lead vocalist for a band called “Off The Record.”

Establishing her professional law corporation in 2003 in Palm Springs, Ms. Ravicz’ practice focuses on probate and trust administration; probate court litigation; conservatorships; trusts; wills; will contest; guardianship; estate planning; and business organization.

She is a member of the Desert Bar Association, California Bar Association, and the Trusts & Estates Section of the State Bar of California. She served as President of the Board of Directors of the Palm Springs High School Academic Boosters Club and volunteers for Harvard University and Special Education Department, Palm Springs High School.

Ms. Ravicz was born in Inchon, South Korea and grew up in Aiea, Hawaii. She graduated Harvard University, 1984, and the American University Washington College of Law, 1987.
She began her legal career in Fairbanks, Alaska in September 1987 with Call, Barrett & Burbank, one of the oldest law firms in Fairbanks. She took a sabbatical in 1999-2000 to homestead 15 acres on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Ms. Ravicz moved to the Palm Springs area in 2000 where she joined Schlecht, Shevlin & Shoenberger, one of the oldest law firms in the Coachella Valley, prior to opening her own law offices.

J. Ramon “Ray” Villanueva, MBA

Ray Villanueva has more than 30 years’ experience in postsecondary higher education management at various operational levels and capacities including founding new institutions and leading management in state approval, national accreditation process as well as Federal Title IV program participation approval.

In 1984, he founded Career College Center in Whittier, California. In 1987-1990, he served as School Director and Chief Administrative Officer of Whittier Institute of Technology. In 1995, he founded Newbridge College in Tustin, California. He is currently President and CEO of California Nurses Educational Institute and Capstone College.

He served as a board member and trustee of Northcentral University, an online institution for higher education accredited by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for California Southern University, an online university accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Villanueva holds an MBA from Northcentral University and is a Certified Higher Educational Professional by the National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools.

A Registered Nurse for nearly four decades and an educator for the past 10 years at California Nurses Education Institute (CNEI). Edwina Dirk brings a wealth of hands-on experience and passion for teaching to Alzheimer’s Coachella Valley. She is the program director for CNEI’s Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Home Health Aide (HHA) nursing programs.

Edwina first became a volunteer at ACV when she developed a 27-week state-approved Continuing Education Unit course for Dementia Caregiver Training. Which services CNA and HHA professionals, a first-ever program in the Coachella Valley.

She began teaching the course at ACV in April. Classes are offered the last Thursday of each month with a different topic and currently free of charge. Classes have been at capacity, with 30+ attendees every month, and thus ACV has had to move to a larger office space.

Edwina’s vision for ACV is, “Keep growing. You are going in the right direction. I love what you are all doing, and I very much want to be part of this!”

ACV Board agreed and asked Edwina to serve on the board this summer.

A 16-year resident of Cathedral City, Edwina and her husband George love eating out and winning jackpots. Her hobby is collecting covered and uncovered ceramic pie dishes, which led to her “Winkie’s Odds & Ends” novelty business.