Felicia has primary day-to-day responsibility for planning, implementing, managing and controlling financial-related activities of the corporation. She serves as a business partner to the corporation on the organization’s financial, budgeting, partnership compliance, and administrative processes.

Felicia has primary day-to-day responsibility for planning, implementing, managing and controlling financial-related activities of the corporation. She serves as a business partner to the corporation on the organization’s financial, budgeting, partnership compliance, and administrative processes. She is a former Vice President of AmBank and graduated from the two-year certificate program through Western States School of Banking (New Mexico). Her experience also includes serving as Coordinator of both the Learning Assistance and Career Services Centers at NMSU where she taught courses such as Freshman Year Experience, GMAT/GRE preparation, Upward Bound courses to high school students and partnered with industry professionals to provide workshops and seminars on financial awareness, career planning, and academic achievement. She graduated from Cobre High School (targeted community of this nonprofit) and holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications and an MBA from New Mexico State University.

Maria Elena is responsible for day-to-day overseeing of the administration, programs and strategic planning of the STEAMing Ahead for Success.  Other duties include fundraising, marketing, educational and community outreach, sustainability, and implementing appropriate resources to ensure that the operation of the organization is aligned to the mission.

Maria Elena is a results-driven, innovative professional with over 25 years of experience in instructional and strategic leadership and organizational development. She is well-versed in enhancing organizational systems within public schools and nonprofit organizations at the local, state, national, and international levels. She has led multi-year, multi-million dollar resource and strategic initiatives from concept through proposal writing, budget preparation, implementation, data analysis, and sustainability planning. As a science and math program manager, she planned and designed K-12 science and math programs that encouraged minorities and females to enter STEM fields. A strong desire to come “home” to give back to her community and a passion to provide students access and opportunities led her back to her NM roots. She graduated from Cobre High School and holds a B.A. from Western New Mexico University and an M.A. from the University of New Mexico.

Jacqueline has primary responsibility for day-to-day overseeing of the programmatic activities of the organization including regulatory compliance, helping to manage and shape organizational and business strategy, policies, program evaluation/research (including data collection and analysis).

Jacqueline has designed comprehensive professional development programs and facilitated trainings for groups ranging from 12 to over 1200. Areas of expertise include leadership development, mentoring, systems improvement, program design and project management. Jacqueline is a successful grant writer for projects ranging from $5,000 to $5 million. She has served as program developer and project manager for a $5 million, 3-year grant with the NMPED for state-wide professional development for all educators. Jacqueline has also worked for McREL International in Denver where she managed a $1.5 million grant to publish eight research documents on successful programs and policies in supporting underserved students of poverty and color. Her experience as teacher and elementary principal have led her to design teacher and principal mentoring programs at the local, state and national levels (e.g., NAESP PALS Program; PA Inspired Leadership Initiative; and NJ Leaders to Leaders Program). She has done extensive doctoral work and research at Lehigh University in Organizational Leadership focusing on the relationship of mentoring and novice school principals’ development of key leadership skills. Jacqueline holds a B.A. and a M.Ed. from Purdue University and a C.A.S. in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University. Growing up in a family of scientists and engineers, she has a passion for promoting the joy of engaging in STEAM activities. Jacqueline credits a few significant mentors in her life who helped her on her journey of lifelong learning and she will lead STEAMing Ahead for Success Mentoring Experiences for teachers, students, and industry professionals.