Community Leadership Mentors

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 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.

ERIN DORAN

Erin Doran, Ed.D., was born and raised in El Paso to a family of educators, including her parents who are both K-12 principals. She attended UTSA as an undergraduate, where she earned a B.A. in 2006 and M.A.

MARCO A. DAVIS

Marco A. Davis received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Latin American Studies from Yale University, and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

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

CARLOS SOLTERO

Recently, Soltero’s work has included defending five software engineers in a non-compete and trade secret claim where their former employer claimed, among other things, that the Internet of Things is its trade secret;

JUAN C. GONZALEZ

Dr. Juan C. González received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, his master’s degree in Bilingual-Bicultural Education from the University of Texas at San Antonio

EDWARD LEACH

Edward Leach earned a PhD in educational administration with a concentration in community college leadership from The University of Texas in Austin.

SHANNON SALINAS

Shannon Salinas is Associate Dean for Student Affairs at Hunter College. Dean Salinas works with students in various ways to support their transition to college life and to maximize their academic success.

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.