COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP MENTORS
Sarah Stayton
She is currently an Advising and Completion Specialist and an Adjunct Professor of English at Austin Community College- Round Rock Campus
RICK CHAVOLLA
Rick Chavolla earned his B.A. from Boston University and his M.A. from Boston College. In 1987 Rick gained his first appointment in higher education at Northern Arizona University becoming the director of Student Support Services, a comprehensive program for first generation, low-income Native American and Latino students.
Jon Herrin
Presently, he teaches for South Texas College (Starr County) where, in addition to teaching, he serves as a peer mentor and researcher for Catch the Next, Inc. He and his wife live on the US/Mexican border in south Texas where they work with the least- and under-served in education and community services.
CEPHAS ARCHIE
Cephas Archie obtained his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (Higher Education) from the University of Houston Clear-Lake, and his MS in Counseling and BA in English, both from Loyola University New Orleans.
JUAN CRUZ
Juan Cruz has a Master’s degree in Public Health Policy and Administration from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Antioch College.
Jeffrey Mayo
As Senior Academic Program Coordinator in UT Austin’s First-Year Experience Office, Dr. Mayo develops programs to support transfer students during their academic transition to campus.
LUZELMA CANALES
Luzelma G. Canales holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Pan American University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas – Pan American, and Doctorate of Philosophy in Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University – College Station.
LaVerna Fountain
She is Vice President for Strategic Communications and Construction Business Initiatives at Columbia University Facilities and Operations. Under her direction, Fountain has led the University's initiatives to expand opportunities for minorities, women and local (MWL) businesses and construction workers to do business with Columbia.
Taylor McCain
She is an osteopathic physician who practices full spectrum family medicine at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Alpine, TX.
MARIA COELLO
Coello is a member of the Investment Advisory Committee and an investor in the fund. Maria is the founder of U.S.A. Aseguranza, an insurance company. U.S.A. Aseguranza provides car, home and commercial insurance inside supermarkets throughout Dallas-Fort Worth.
Suzanne Solensky
She has worked at a community college, a public four-year institution, and two private universities, and her administrative experience includes admissions, orientation, academic support, and advising – as well as presentations and other types of involvement in professional associations.
NORA BENAVIDEZ
Benavidez is a Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Georgia. She investigates and develops new cases with our affiliate and national partners. She also helps manage our legal caseload through research and writing for active litigation, including appeals.
Liliana Wilson
In 1977, she visited the United States and subsequently settled in Austin, Texas. She studied drawing at Austin Community College, and painting at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. She has exhibited her artwork throughout the United States, Mexico, and Italy.
KEVIN A. CHRISTIAN
Kevin A. Christian received his certification in addiction counseling from The College of Southern Maryland before receiving his Master of Business Administration with a minor in Human Resources Management from Southeastern University in Washington, D.C.
Kathy Zarate
Kathy Zarate is Senior Fellows Coordinator with Texas OnCourse, a college and career preparedness initiative housed at the University of Texas at Austin. Kathy manages a fellowship for secondary counselors to promote college and career initiatives in Texas to ensure that all students graduate high school prepared for post secondary success.
ANA MARÍA ARUMÍ
Ana María Arumí is a perceptive, inventive, empathetic, and strategic researcher, focus group moderator, writer, and producer with nationally recognized quantitative and qualitative study design, analysis, and Emmy award-winning reporting skills.
QUINCY DANIELS
Quincy Daniels is now campus operations manager for the Iron Yard in Austin, Texas. In this position, he aids in creating an exceptional student experience by providing operational excellence to create a consistent and welcoming student and staff experience.
FELICIA ESCOBAR
Felicia Escobar is a native of San Antonio, Texas. She received an undergraduate degree from Yale University, a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and her J.D. from UCLA School of Law.
VITO DE LA CRUZ
Vito De la Cruz grew up in South Texas in a migrant farm worker family. He graduated from high school and was fortunate to attend Yale and later the University of California Boalt Hall School of Law.
ROSALINDA GARCIA
In 2002 Rosalinda Garcia moved to Yale University, where she was Director of La Casa. In 2014, she accepted the position of Assistant Vice President of Student Life at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas.
ELVIRA DURAN
Elvira Duran has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Yale University and a degree in Nursing from Southern Connecticut State University
SYBLE DAVIS
After graduating from Palestine High School, Syble Davis moved to Houston to attend Texas Southern University. Her initial major was Criminal Justice, but she enjoyed all of her English courses
EILEEN GALVEZ
Eileen Galvez is a first- generation college graduate and second- generation immigrant. Her passions lie in social justice and the impact that an education can have on individuals and community groups.
