In 1966, Irene received a bachelors degree in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley, followed by a masters in public health education in 1968. In 1979, aftera stint as a lecturer in health sciences and women's studies at San lose State University and several years as policy analyst at University of California, Berkeley, Irene joined the University Office of the President in the Department of Health Affairs as a senior policy analyst. In 1989-90, she was awarded a management fellowship at UC Davis, and the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Martinez. From 1991 through 1997, Irene served as coordinator of the UC-California Wellness Foundation Faculty Award Program, otherwise known as the "Wellness Lecture Series". Irene brought a keen intelligence and a perfectionist's zeal to every phase of her career. But her greatest professional joy was her work from 2000 to 2006 as an admi- nistrator and assistant director for COSMOS, an intensive immersion program for high school students with an aptitude for mathematics, science, technology, or engi- neering. Irene had a particular interest in increasing enrollment of minority students. Viewing the program as a vehicle to higher education, career, and leadership opportu- nities, she recognized the need to reach out to "at need" vouth. Each year, she personally recruited students from Bay Area high schools, sprea- ding the message that a brighter future was possible.