Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
David A. Ortiz, Ph.D., senior vice president and chief operating officer for HACU, previously served as the executive director for policy analysis and information at HACU. Before joining HACU, he oversaw a 2.5 million-dollar Title V federal grant at the University of the Incarnate Word, and has served in various faculty and administrative roles at Indiana University, Baylor University, Oklahoma State University, and Concordia University. His research and work on Hispanic higher education has been recognized by the White House Initiative on Education Excellence for Hispanics, Texas Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators, National Orientation Directors Association, National College Learning Center Association, National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, and the Association of Fraternity Advisors. Ortiz has served as the vice president of the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators, executive council member of ACPA/College Student Educators International, national executive deputy of Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society, and national president of Omega Delta Phi, Fraternity, Inc. He earned his doctorate from Indiana University Bloomington and has a master’s and bachelor’s from Texas A&M University, College Station.
Director for PK-Initiatives
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
Jeanette Morales is the director for PK-12 initiatives for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. She joined HACU in August 2006. In this position, she works with school districts to better serve their Hispanic populations and help increase the number of Hispanics in post-secondary education. Among the programs she coordinates are professional development programs for high school counselors and university tours for middle and high students. She serves as a liaison to help bridge the gap between school districts and institutions of higher education. Morales has more than 25 years’ experience working with first-generation, minority students. Her prior experience includes working at the Center for Health Policy Development. She helped launch the Upward Bound Math & Science program at University of Texas at San Antonio working with students from South Texas. At Communities in Schools of San Antonio, she worked with Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search programs assisting middle and high school students from rural communities develop their skills for post-secondary success. She created a grade specific curriculum to help students navigate their way through the college admission and financial aid processes. Morales was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. She earned a bachelor’s from St. Mary’s University and a master’s from the University of Texas at San Antonio where she is currently enrolled as a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
Dr. Elizabeth Díaz Rodriguez has had the privilege of teaching, mentoring students and teachers, and participating in community-based education in Puerto Rico. She has served as schoolteacher for elementary through high school for 30 years. Her areas of expertise include curriculum development, distance education, science teaching and education. With over 17 years of experience in higher education Mrs. Díaz currently teaches face to face, online and hybrid courses at the Ana G. Méndez University of Puerto Rico. In addition, has certifications in Distance learning, Construction of Virtual Environments, Microsoft Educator, Cybercrime, Designer modules and IRB, RCR, HIPS. She achieved her Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching in Biology Education from the Rio Piedras University Campus, of the University of Puerto Rico, a Master Degree in Science Education from the Cambridge College and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching. She has been editor of the educational journal Conectate AHORA and has written some articles.
Noelia Rodriguez holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico in Science of General Elementary Education, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from University of Phoenix and actually is a candidate student of a Doctorate Degree in Philosophy in Leadership of Education at Keiser University. Noelia Rodriguez has worked as a Customer Service Supervisor in NeoDeck Corp. in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She also has served as a Case Management Counselor at Augusta Correctional Center in Craigsville, Virginia and she is currently working as an Elementary Dual Language Teacher in Harrisonburg City Public Schools
Gerardo Ocaña holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in Arts with a concentration in Political Sciences and International Relations, a Master’s Degree in Adults Education and Training from University of Phoenix. At this moment, Gerardo is a student of the doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at Keiser University. Gerardo has been corporate trainer and instructor in some areas like banking, U.S. Federal Reserve Bank System and airline industry for the last 15 years.
Marlie Toledo holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with two Sub-Concentrations in Pre-Technology Medical and Biomedical Science from Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. Completed a Master Degree of Education in Curriculum and Teaching in Biology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. Marlie Toledo has been a professor at universities such as Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and Turabo University form Puerto Rico. She has served as a Board Member of Directors at universities.
Professor
University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón Campus
Peggy Y. Santiago is professor at the University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón. Her master’s degree in Business Education and doctoral degree in Education and Curriculum has enabled her to engage in the profound process of teaching and learning. She has also participated in the process of assessing students learning outcomes and program assessment as part of the accreditation process of Office System Department. She is certified as teacher by the Education Department of Puerto Rico, Microsoft User Specialist in Word and PowerPoint, and as Microsoft Certified Educator.
Under her authorship are various articles published in Revista APEC associated to distance education issues, educational philosophy, and teaching-learning assessment. Likewise, she is coauthor of two books associated with an abbreviation system as well as a productivity program. The author believes that through education the human being thinking process is constantly transformed.
Internal Evaluator
Youth Educational Success Project
Universidad Ana G. Méndez- Carolina Campus
Sarai Torres has a master’s degree in Educational Research and Evaluation from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. Obtained a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems and Accounting from the Interamerican University of P.R., Bayamón Campus. For nearly 10 years has evaluated STEM focused projects from Ana G. Méndez University, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón and is currently the Internal and Data Evaluator for the Youth Educational Success Project at Global Education Exchange Opportunities. She has worked as a workshop designer focused on new technologies, use of platforms and educational applications for K-12 teachers.
Auxiliary Director
School of Science and Technology
Universidad Ana G. Méndez- Carolina Campus
Dr. Frances Lugo is currently the Program Director for the School of Science and Technology at Universidad Ana G. Mendez- Carolina Campus. Her task is to work alongside the School faculty to develop and implement educational strategies to improve students learning. Before becoming the program director for that university, she was the curriculum specialist. As a specialist, her role was to create activities for the development of competency as well as develop the pre-immersion program named “BootCamp,” and biweekly seminars. Dr. Lugo’s research experience consists of studying the synthesis of materials that can absorb greenhouse gases as well as determining heavy metal algae bioabsorption, and concentration of heavy metals in Puerto Rico freshwater.
Scientific Writing Specialist
Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Carolina
Mrs. Wined Ramirez-Lopez holds a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Puerto Rico-Medical School. She is currently the Scientific Writing Specialist for the Universidad Ana G. Mendez- Carolina Campus School of Science and Technology. Her task is to assist students with developing scientific writing, among others. Before becoming a Scientific Writer, she was a Research Assistant at the Center for Public Health Preparedness. There she was tasked with the Hazard Vulnerability Analysis and Risk Assessment of the Health Care System in Puerto Rico. Mrs. Ramirez-Lopez’s research experience consists of evaluating the implementation of a sanitary system in a developing community in Haiti and the effects that antibiotic Monensin has on soil bacteria.
Associate Professor
Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Carolina
Dr. Nilda G. Medina is an Associate Professor at the School of Social and Human Sciences of Universidad Ana G. Méndez (UAGM), Carolina. She holds a PhD in Academic-Research Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus and a Master Degree in General Psychology from New York University (NYU). From 2011 to 2015 she was a Research Professor in UAGM’s Project VIAS-RIMI and is currently Principal Investigator of several research projects, including Project ECO-RED (Effects of air pollutants on respiratory health and cognition of Puerto Rican children – R15MD010201), funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Medina has several publications in professional journals such as Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action (John Hopkins University Press), the Puerto Rican Journal of Psychology, among others. In addition, she has participated as a speaker in academic and professional forums sponsored by the Inter-American Psychological Society, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of School Psychology and the Puerto Rico Psychology Association, among others. Likewise, she has worked as a school psychologist in the public and private sector. Her research interests include neurocognitive development, language development, learning disabilities, school violence and school climate.
(Corresponding author)
Dean School of Science and Technology
Director of HSI STEM Title III Program
Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Carolina
Dr. Marielis Rivera is the Dean of the School at the of Science and Technology of Universidad Ana G. Méndez Carolina Campus. She holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and postdoctoral experience in Pharmacology from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus. Currently is the principal investigator of the DE Title III HSI-STEM program Competency Development Approaches: Increasing STEM Awareness and Retention to Narrow the Achievement Gap of Hispanic Students and oversees the implementation of other programs funded by DE-MSIEP, NIH-RISE, and USDA-WAMS. Dr. Rivera has published in topic areas such as post transcriptional regulation, antifungal drugs, electrical remodeling in the heart and learning strategies in STEM education.
Professor
Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Carolina
Educational Researcher of HSI STEM Title III Program
Dr. Carmen Peraza is a Professor at Universidad Ana G. Méndez Carolina Campus, with over 30 years of experience. She has a PhD in Educational Research, a MA in Education, and a BA in Math Education. Dr. Peraza has published in topic areas such as research methodology, math phobia, and transdisciplinary approaches. She is also the author of various books including a Practical Guide for Action Research, which has been adopted by the Puerto Rico Department of Education. In addition, she did the technical revision of the Spanish version of the well-known Mathematical ideas book by Charles D. Miller et al. Currently, Dr. Peraza is an active member of the Association of Math Teachers of PR and the Puerto Rican Union of Qualitative Research, and serves as peer-reviewed for various Latin-American journals. She was the PI of a Department of Education Title V proposal for the Integration of Math and Geography and is currently serving as the Educational Researcher in the DE HSI-STEM Title III proposal Competency Development Approaches: Increasing STEM Awareness and Retention to Narrow the Achievement Gap of Hispanic Students awarded to UNE.
Angélica M. Vega de Jesús holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus in Arts Secondary Education, a Master Degree in Science of Environmental Management with a concentration in Environmental Assessment and Risk Management from Metropolitan University of Puerto Rico (Ana G. Méndez).
Angélica M. Vega de Jesús works as a high school teacher in the public system of the Puerto Rico Department of Education. She has taught science courses such as biology, earth sciences, chemistry, environmental sciences and physics. She is also working as a biology teacher in the Ramón Quiñones Medina High School in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.
Exi Resto de León has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Social Work and a minor degree in Psychology from the Ana G. Méndez University System in Cupey, Puerto Rico. Later I completed my master’s degree in the Justice Systems Program with a specialty in Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Processes from the University of the Sacred Heart (USC) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. For the year two thousand and sixteen I presented my first publication entitled Dominican Women of San Juan de Puerto Rico and health services; Inequity and Diversity. I have been an advisor to master’s students at the University of the Sacred Heart in the preparation of their thesis projects. I am currently pursuing doctoral studies in educational leadership at Keiser University.
Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
