STAFF & BOARD
Staff
Alicia Rascon - Chief Executive Officer
Laura Donnelly - Chief Operations Officer
Brooke Marroquin - Program Coordinator
Carmen Rodriguez - Administrative Assistant
Claudia Escobar, AmeriCorps VISTA - Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator
Board of Directors
Bibi Lobo - Board Chair
Federico Subervi - Past Board Chair
Veronica Garza - Recording Secretary
Becky Arreaga
Angie Ayala Berumen - Founding Board Member/Webmaster
Sam Eder
Evelyn Escamilla
Victoria Garza
Esmeralda Gonzalez - Treasurer
Geri Luna Wilson
Staff & Board Bios
Chief Executive Officer/Latinitas Co-Founder: Alicia Rascon
Alicia Rascon was born in Jalisco , Mexico and grew up in El Paso , Texas. She has been a development associate for the Austin Children’s Museum and has worked in non-profit and Hispanic media as a production assistant at National Public Radio’s Latino USA and as the director of communications for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Travis County. Following college, Alicia worked as a reading specialist for bilingual students as an Americorps volunteer and taught part-time for the Austin Independent School District. She graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Texas with a minor in Mexican American studies. Co-founder of Latinitas Magazine and Outreach, Rascon is dedicated to providing new opportunities to help Hispanic girls realize their potential. As Chief Executive Officer, Alicia manages the production of Latinitas magazine, program outreach and resource development for Latinitas. She also spearheaded Latinitas’ first pilot chapter in El Paso, Texas in 2008. Alicia has volunteered throughout her life for numerous cultural groups including LULAC, the Junior League Hispanic Mother/Daughter Program, and La Luz de Amistad. She is currently a member of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas and has served on the board of Girl Scouts – Lone Star Council. In 2008, Alicia was awarded the Sor Juana de Inez award from the National Mexican Museum of Art for her commitment to serving Latina youth.
Chief Operating Officer/Latinitas Co-Founder: Laura Donnelly
Laura Donnelly was a book publicist for eight years in New York City , working with authors such as Michael Crichton, Erica Jong, Maya Angelou and former President Jimmy Carter, until she realized she wanted to generate her own media. A “big sister” in Big Brothers/Big Sisters for ten years, she had long been inspired to create a forum for “girl speak.” She received her undergraduate degree in English at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison , NJ and a masters in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin in 2003. The co-founder of Latinitas Magazine and Outreach, Laura is strongly dedicated to empowering Latina youth. As Chief Operating Officer, Laura manages the production of Latinitas magazine, program outreach and resource development for Latinitas. She is also a documentary filmmaker producing a short work titled, “Capirotada,” which was featured in South by Southwest Film Festival. In 2009, Laura was named a YWCA of Austin Woman of the Year, “Leader of Promise” for her work empowering Hispanic girls and teens.
Program Coordinator: Brooke Marroquin
A three-year volunteer for Latinitas, Brooke now holds a position with the organization as Program Coordinator. Brooke graduated from University of Texas at Austin in 2004 with a B.S. in Radio-TV-Film and has since worked with South by Southwest Music and Film Festival (SXSW) doing video production. She has been a freelance web designer and worked in the graphics department of a local Austin News station. In addition, Brooke is enrolled in St. Edwards University earning a Master’s degree in teaching. As a program coordinator, Brooke is responsible for managing club leaders and the Club Latinitas meetings. Passionate about Latinitas’ mission, Brooke enjoys using her multimedia skills as well as working with the college students who lead clubs and intern with the organization.
Administrative Assistant: Carmen Rodriguez
Driven by our mission, Carmen volunteered with Latinitas as a high school student four years ago. Now a college Junior studying Social Work at UT Austin, Carmen is an Administrative Assistant with us. This young Latina was valedictorian of her high school, founder and president of the Latinitas College Council as a college freshman, and has also received awards for her artwork. Her artwork has been featured in a local Austin gallery and in the national woman’s magazine Sinister Wisdom. Carmen is an education reform advocate, speaking out for charter schools on numerous occasions at city council meetings. Carmen hopes to see Latinitas continue to flourish.
Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator: Claudia Escobar, AmeriCorps VISTA
With beginnings as a Club Mentor for Club Latinitas in the Fall of 2008, then Club Leader in the Spring of 2009, Claudia is now a coordinator assigned to Latinitas through AmeriCorps. Responsible for creating club curriculum and training new club leaders and volunteers, Claudia is driven when it comes to empowering other young Latinas like herself. She would love to see Latinitas spread to cities across the country. In the past, Claudia has volunteered for La Mujer Obrera, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, the Rescue Mission of El Paso, and the Child Crisis Center. Earlier this year, Claudia received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Board Chair: Bibi Lobo
Born in Havana , Cuba , Bibi Lobo has worked throughout her career to increase opportunities for success for all children. She began her work as a preschool substitute teacher in Lansing , Michigan , where she studied international relations and public policy at Michigan State University . Upon moving to Austin , Texas , she taught preschool and served as President of the Austin Association for the Education of Young Children and participated in numerous leadership activities, in Washington D.C. and around the country. She finished her studies at the University of Texas at Austin and received a bachelor’s degree in social work. Bibi worked at the Corporate Fund for Children for six years. During that time, she established a clearinghouse, managed a statewide federally-funded scholarship program the Child Development Associate, and directed the Children’s Legislative Links, a statewide advocacy network. Later she founded the National Latino Children’s Institute, where she coordinated many of the programs developed for young Latinos. She was instrumental in guiding NLCI’s research of youth issues, and provided the leadership for youth involvement in policy and program development. Bibi oversees Latinitas’ consejeros, a group of professional men and women who provide in-kind support and guidance. Consejeros are journalists, lawyers and public relations and marketing professionals. She held annual forums with young Latinos throughout the country to explore their opportunities and barriers. Bibis served as the vice president from 1997-2004. Bibi has served on numerous committees and boards at the state and national levels, including the National Center for the Early Childhood Workforce and the board of Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklórico de Texas; she is past-president of the Austin Association for the Education of Young Children. She is a 1997 alumna of the National Hispana Leadership program and served on that board for six years. She is currently vice president of Latinitas’ board of directors.
Past Board Chair: Federico Subervi-Velez
For over twenty years, Federico Subervi-Velez has been working in mass communication in an effort to raise awareness and attention to the experiences of Latinos. Formerly the University of Texas at Austin ’s RTF Graduate Advisor, Subervi-Velez is currently a professor at Texas State University . Earning his Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin at Madison , Subervi-Velez has gone on to obtain over $575,000 for research projects on a variety of topics pertaining to ethnic issues and communication, and is currently writing a book titled Mass Media and Latino Politics: Case studies of media content, communication strategies, and survey research, 1984-1996. Latinitas was developed in Subervi-Velez’s Latinos and Media class at UT. Currently, he builds and attracts board leadership to Latinitas, helps in fundraising for after school programs and is a link to a workforce of volunteer student interns at his current position at Texas State . In addition to his teaching, publications, and research on Latinos and the media, his international research has focused on the media system of Puerto Rico ; and the images of Blacks and other ethnic groups in Brazilian television. Subervi-Velez has served as advisor or consultant to various public and private entities such as: Fox Kids Network, Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer, The Dallas Morning News, The National Museum of American History, The National Council of La Raza, Harvard University's Joan Shorenstein Barone Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, United States Commission on Civil Rights, The Tomás Rivera Policy Institute, and The National Latino Children's Institute.
Recording Secretary: Veronica Garza
A native Austinite, Veronica joined the Board of Directors of Latinitas in the summer of 2008 because she believes that having positive role models who talk to girls about the many opportunities open to them and having creative outlets that teach them how to express themselves are key to the success of Latina youth. Veronica received a Bachelor of Arts from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas where she served as vice president of finance and reference chairman for Delta Delta Delta. Veronica currently serves as the president-elect of the Board of the Greater Austin Association of Southwestern Alumni. Veronica currently works at National Instruments in the Investor Relations department.
Board Member: Becky Arreaga
Becky is president and co-founder of marketing firm, Mercury Mambo. Becky spent 10 years, working her way from the bottom up, at the nation’s largest Hispanic agency (now called Bromley Communications) and helped land their most prestigious account, Coca-Cola USA, in 1989. She earned a BA from Texas Tech University and a master’s in advertising at The University of Texas at Austin. Becky currently serves on the Latinitas, Inc. Board of Directors as well as the National Board of Directors of the College of Mass Communications at Texas Tech University.
Founding Board Member/Webmaster: Angie Ayala Berumen
Angie Berumen began volunteering for Latinitas in 2002 and served as a founding board member. Since then, Angie has been an integral part of the design, production and maintance of the Latinitas website, producing interactive content and updating the digital magazine articles regularly. With a technology background, Angie is dedicated to teaching young girls the power of technology. Angie currently serves as a Database Application Manager for the Health Professions Council. Angie grew up in Harlingen, TX. Previously, Angie is an IT specialist at the University of Texas as well providing freelance technology consultant services. Upon graduating from high school she attended the University of Texas at Austin where she graduated with a degree in Management Information Systems. She has extensive volunteer experience in providing web design and computer workshops for youth. She is an active member of the Kappa Delta Chi Alumni service organization.
Board Member: Sam Eder
Born in Panama City Panama, Sam got his start with social media managing an online community of educators for Apple Computer over 10 years ago. Ever since, he has been on the cutting edge of online marketing, creating and executing strategic social media plans for companies such as Belo, Office Depot, and the American Heart Association. Sam is passionate about fostering 21st century skills in the Latina community via the social web. He holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Virginia.
Board Member: Victoria Garza
Born in Austin, Texas, Victoria “Vicky” Garza brings over 10 years of writing, editing, and communications experience, as well as a passion for education, health, and women’s rights, to Latinitas. While pursuing a degree in Marketing from the University of Miami, Vicky served as the Public Relations Director and on-air DJ for the campus radio station and interned for a public relations and marketing firm, where she had the opportunity to help with and serve as a youth leader for the first state-wide teen anti-smoking campaign. After graduation, Vicky returned to Austin, where she worked as a journalist for the Texas Senate during the 78th Legislative Session and as an editor at Freescale Semiconductor for over three years. An avid traveler, Vicky spent time working in London, UK and Maui, Hawaii before graduating with her MBA from St. Edward’s University. Vicky is now the Editor-in-Chief for The Austin Times, the weekly newspaper focused on celebrating the city’s diversity. She also works part-time as the Coordinator for the Texas Non-Profit Hospice Alliance. In addition to volunteering with Latinitas, first as the Volunteer Coordinator and now on the Board of Directors, Vicky is on the Hispanic Futures Conference Council and has also volunteered with Leadership Austin, National Society of Hispanic MBAs, Young Hispanic Professional Association-Austin, and the Las Comadres women’s network.
Consejeras Liaison: Geri Luna Wilson
Geri Luna Wilson is as a career counselor with WorkSource. She has served as an early education specialist at the Child’s Way Creative Learning Center . Wilson has worked hands-on with the needs and challenges of Latina youth as a former administrator for the National Latino Children’s Institute, as a human resource director for six years and with five years in Yuba-Sutter County Child Abuse Council, Yuba City , CA . A mother of two and a committed member of Austin ’s Las Comadres Network, Wilson achieved her bachelor’s degree from Antioch University West in Los Angeles , CA in Child Development and Psychology. Wilson brings 25 years of experience in curriculum development, staff training, career counseling, and special events coordinating to Latinitas’ board.
