Monica F. Torres, Ph.D. is Vice President for Academic Affairs at New Mexico State University, Doña Ana Community College and a former dean at Central New Mexico Community College. Her research and teaching interests include the role of language and other forms of representation in the shaping of cultural identities in the United States. A Las Cruces native, she has long been interested in broad-based community development and has served on the boards of rape crisis centers in southern and central New Mexico and on the board of the Mesilla Valley Film Society.

Jane Asche, Ed.D. is a retired educator and community development specialist. She has been a national trainer and author for community-business-education partnerships, and she has a passion for working with groups that are committed to creating economic, social, and environmental justice at the local community level and beyond.

Martina Filerio is co-owner of Southwest Painting, LLC in Berino, and has lived in the Anthony/Berino area for 24 years. She is a co-founder of the Women’s Intercultural Center in Anthony and served as director of Finance and Administration from 2004 to February, 2009. She is a board member of La Semilla Food Center and has been a board member for the Home, Education and Livelihood Program in Albuquerque, Mercy Volunteer Corps in Philadelphia, and the Anthony, NM/TX Chamber of Commerce.

Roberto is currently Chief Officer of Equity, Innovation, and Social Justice for the Las Cruces Public School District and is also an adjunct faculty member in the College of Education at New Mexico State University. Dr. Lozano has had an array of educational leadership experiences in the K-12 spectrum. He has experience as a teacher, high school assistant principal, elementary principal, and central office support administrator. His current role within the Las Cruces Public School District encompasses overseeing the Special Student Services Department, Bilingual and Migrant Education Department, and working collaboratively with the district superintendent to implement specific initiatives. Dr. Lozano’s research interests include Latino students in the K-12 educational system and issues related to immigration and its implications to educational leadership.

Esther Devall, Ph.D., Certified Family Life Educator is the department head for Family and Consumer Sciences and Extension Family and Consumer Sciences at New Mexico State University. Before becoming department head, she taught undergraduate and graduate classes in the Family and Child Science major in the department. Her research interests include parenting and relationship education, family resiliency, single-parent families, and Hispanic families. She has been the principal investigator on federal and state grants totaling over $13 million. She served on the advisory boards of Jardin de los Niños and the Teen Parent Residence. She believes that to improve our state and nation, we must focus on strengthening families. Her mission is to help move New Mexico “from worst to first.”

Evelyn Madrid Erhard is a former teacher from NMSU and Dona Ana Community College. She taught essay writing, interpersonal communication skills, public speaking, and debate with an emphasis on critical thinking and creativity. Joining parents, teachers, and the community to boost our children’s success is a priority for her.

Jennifer Haan is Coordinator for Elementary Instruction in the Las Cruces Public Schools. With 23 years’ experience in K-12 public schools, Jennifer has been both a teacher and an administrator in California, Texas, and New Mexico. Originally from San José, California, Jennifer is currently a doctoral student at New Mexico State University. Her research focuses on educational leadership practices in K-12 schools, specifically in racially and ethnically diverse settings.

Michael is Third Generation Army. He was born in Kansas. Michael has a MA in Management and Supervision from Central Michigan University. He studied Higher Education/Administration at NMSU. He graduated from the Italian War College and Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Michael completed two combat tours in Vietnam, three tours Pentagon, Washington, DC, two tours in Italy, and three tours in Germany. He retired as Colonel. His work experience includes Policy Analyst to the Mayor of Las Cruces, Staff Member for Senator Jeff Bingaman, and Political Consultant and Community Organizer. Some of his community involvement includes, former Chairman of Southwest United Way, Dona Ana County Maternal Child Health Council, and Dona Ana Action for Youth. Michael was former member of the Youth Challenge Group, New Mexico Advocates for Children and Families, Las Cruces Revitalization Project, Mayor’s Youth Advisory Board (Las Cruces), Mayor’s Veterans Affairs Board, Dona Ana Workforce Action Council, Mesilla Valley Youth Foundation (Court Youth Center). Currently, he is the President Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity Alumni Association, Member of the Empowerment Congress, and Volunteer Coordinator Anthony Teen Advisory Council.