Community Leadership Mentors

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.

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.

RACHEL HILDEBRANDT

Hildebrandt worked for years as a historical consultant and academic editor before transitioning to literary translation (German). Rachel is also the founder of Weyward Sisters Publishing, which focuses on bringing contemporary works of crime and noir fiction

AUGIE RIVERA

Rivera was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1988. His credentials include the ability to practice before the U. S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U. S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals and several U. S. District Courts.

ANDREW SICELOFF

Siceloff is a multicultural storyteller. Through his work, he specializes in developing an identity for minorities in media. With strong ties to his heritage, he strives to create culturally diverse content.

PAMELA Y. GEORGE

She is the Executive Director of S.A.V.E. Inc. (Serving All Vessels Equally), Adjunct Professor in Psychology at the University of Bridgeport, and Education Specialist for Supplemental Instruction/ Learning Commons Coordinator at Norwalk Community College.

RAY JURADO

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ray G. Jurado, was born and raised in East Los Angeles, and was the first in his family to attend college. He is a graduate of Yale University and UCLA School of Law.

JUAN CARLOS SALINAS

Juan Carlos Salinas is the founder of Y Tú También School Readiness Program, which promotes a college-going culture and college readiness for underprivileged high school students.

ANA GUZMAN

Dr. Ana Guzman is a former President of Palo Alto College and Santa Fe Community College.

ERIK PAVIA

Erik Pavia graduated with a business degree from UTEP, and then attended Stanford University, where he graduated with his law degree in 2013.

SARAH SHANEY

Sarah Shaney manages The Communities In Schools program at Eastside Memorial, serving 115 students. During her first year at Eastside Memorial, Sarah implemented a success coaching program at Eastside.

BIRGIT JORGENSEN SICELOFF

Currently Siceloff is working as a Peace Corps Volunteer, teaching critical care nursing in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. She has had a career in critical care, cardiothoracic surgery, heart and lung transplantation, and heart failure

ERICA SÁENZ

Erica Sáenz holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

TERESA GRANILLO

Granillo is executive director of Con Mi Madre, a 501c3 organization with the mission of empowering young Latinas and their mothers through education and support services that increase preparedness, participation, and success in post- secondary education.

MONETTE MCIVER

McIver serves as the manager of higher education services, providing leadership, guidance, and continuity across higher education resources offered by the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin.

GRACIELA SANCHEZ

Graciela Sanchez is Director and Founder of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center in Austin, Texas. Graciela follows in the footsteps of her mother and abuelitas, strong neighborhood women of color cultural workers and activists of San Antonio.

IRIS HUNTER

An entrepreneur, Hunter is President and Founder of AIR Venture Assets INC dba FirstLight HomeCare Springfield, VA, a social responsibility company that provides in- home care services to seniors ...

MARTHA ROMERO

Romero was the Founding Director of the Community College Leadership Development Initiatives (CCLDI) at Claremont Graduate University. As a faculty member, Dr. Romero taught graduate seminars in organizational development at the University of Colorado