Oakley (Lee) Van Slyke

Lee grew up in a small town in Southern California, immersed in a culture of community involvement. Early experiences included family fundraisers with craft projects and parents actively supporting organizations like the Children’s Home Society and the Ventura County Historical Society.

Community service has been a consistent thread throughout Lee's life. From volunteering in high school and college to continuing service during a distinguished career as a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and an Associate of the Society of Actuaries, Lee has always been committed to giving back. Their professional background also provided valuable insights into the operations of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and federal, state, and local services.

In 2022, Lee joined the Board of Directors of Global Health Connections. Over the past 25 years, they have held numerous leadership roles, including serving as President of the San Clemente Historical Society, the San Clemente Rotary Club, and the Board of Trustees for the Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley. Currently, Lee serves as a Trustee of the Idyllwild Arts Foundation and as a Director of the San Clemente Rotary Club, the San Clemente Rotary Foundation, and the Associates of the Idyllwild Arts Foundation, in addition to their work with GHC.

Together with his late wife, Dena, Lee is a proud member of the Arch Klumph Society of Rotary International. Now, Lee and his partner, Karen Meyer, enjoy traveling. They are especially looking forward to an upcoming trip to Kenya to visit the CHEC that Dena and Lee sponsored and to see Karen’s niece, who is currently teaching there.