Staff

Ms. Leslie is a San Diego native who graduated from UCSD and SDSU. She began her journey with Circulate as a Planning Intern and has transitioned exceptionally to a full time Assistant Planner. She is passionate about creating more equitable communities throughout the San Diego region, which she believes can be created through public transportation.  

During her free time Leslie likes to run as well as attend soccer and baseball games. She also likes to explore San Diego by finding and trying out new coffee shops.

Carlisle joined the Circulate Planning & Policy staff in October of 2021. Prior to starting this position, she worked as a Research Coordinator at Northeastern University’s Global Resilience Institute. She also spent one year serving as a FoodCorps service member at GROW Windham, working with the public school district to bolster food access, local procurement, and sustainability initiatives.

Carlisle graduated from Northeastern University with a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Davidson College. During her spare time, she can be found playing soccer, surfing, doing crossword puzzles, grocery shopping, taking the bus everywhere it goes, and talking to anyone who will listen about the need for WNBA expansion teams.

Davida has worked in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (A/E/C) industry for over 17 years. A well-rounded marketing professional with a strong background in administrative and office management her roles ranged from front desk first impressions, to managing job-site/project administration, to leading and working with design teams developing robust technical proposals to win work. She is a graduate of University of Phoenix with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing.

She recently returns to San Diego after a four-year stint in New York City and is enjoying her hometown in a whole new way, including taking mass transit for business and pleasure! When she is not managing Circulate’s office operations, she is running her mobile spray tanning business, working out, or enjoying live music. She thoroughly enjoys working with and supporting a positive team with a vision to create a dynamic change in the community.

Octavio is a UCSD graduate and an Senior Planner for Circulate Planning & Policy. He is passionate about creating a community that everyone can enjoy. He believes facilitating transportation for all can help create a more connected and vibrant communities.

As a Los Angeles native, Octavio sees the lack of connected transportation options in both Los Angeles and San Diego. He, alongside Circulate San Diego, works tirelessly to ensure a better community for all.

During his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, video games and above all, tasting the many exquisite foods that San Diego has to offer!

Aria is the Policy Manager at Circulate Planning & Policy. Prior to working at Circulate, Aria spent three years working as a legislative staffer in the United States Senate. She primarily worked on transportation and appropriations policy. Aria graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2022 with a double major in Global Studies and Finance. She also minored in Chinese Language and Culture.

During her free time, you can find her hiking, going to the beach, exploring new neighborhoods, and crocheting.

Cierra is an Senior Planner at Circulate Planning & Policy.  A graduate of USD, she was able to channel her interests in sociology and political science into working at Non-Profits specifically fields that had outreach and community engagement.

Prior to working at Circulate, Cierra was a project manager working to keep San Diego residents housed by providing resources and Tenant Rights workshops in various communities. With her love for community engagement, she is excited to work with Circulate and get back into the communities.  

During her free time, she likes to walk different hiking trails and parks with her mom, host game nights, read a good book, and hang out with her friends.

Colin Parent is the Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel at Circulate Planning & Policy. He is a former elected member of the City Council of La Mesa, California (2016 - 2024).

In addition to overall management and legal matters for Circulate San Diego, Colin oversees advocacy and planning efforts for public transit, safe walkable neighborhoods, and environmental and sustainable land use policy.

Colin served on the Jerry Brown for Governor 2010 campaign, and was appointed by Governor Brown as the Director of External Affairs for the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Prior to working for Governor Brown, Colin practiced law for three years as a commercial litigator at the San Diego office of the international law firm of DLA Piper US LLP. During 2013 and 2014, Colin served as the Director of Policy at the San Diego Housing Commission.

He co-founded the San Diego Leadership Alliance, an organization that trains young San Diegans to be equipped for civic leadership. As a board member of the League of Conservation Voters San Diego, he chaired the first ever coalition to grade the environmental records of elected officials in the City of San Diego. Colin is an Eagle Scout and grew up in East County San Diego. He is a graduate of the NYU Law School, and U.C. San Diego.

Tania is the Legal and Policy Fellow for Circulate Planning & Policy this summer. She is currently a law student with a strong interest in public policy and community-centered advocacy. Tania earned her bachelor’s degree from UCLA, where she majored in Chemistry and minored in Global Studies. 

As a San Diego native and first-generation Latina, she is passionate about using her education to contribute to more equitable and sustainable communities in the region she calls home.  In her free time, Tania enjoys exploring new coffee shops, going
on scenic walks, and going to concerts.

Maria is a UCSD graduate and joined the Circulate Planning & Policy staff in 2022. While she may have been born in Southern CA, her earliest memories are from growing up in Brooklyn, NY. Living in California these past few years has been an adjustment for someone fluent in public transportation, but she is eager to be a part of the process here in San Diego!

During her spare time, she likes to read and spend time with her cat Mochi. She enjoys baking banana breads and bringing them into the office all the time. Since she is a “Walker”, she's always followed her namesake and loves walks by the beach or in nature.