ENCORE - Engaging Communities for College Readiness

This Board consist of a diverse group of community representatives ranging from school administrators, university professors and elected school board members to grass-root community leaders and parents. The primary functions of this board is to assist, provide guidance and build advocacy for ENCORE efforts.

Each member play a pivotal role in evaluating sub-grantee proposals, and provide funding recommendations in the strategic partnerships ENCORE needs to accomplish the college readiness goals. More importantly, the leadership role of this Board provides the gravitas and impetus needed to mobilize the community to establish a college-going culture in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Advisory Board Members

Patricia Loera
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Jonas Saenz
State Farm Insurance
Jaime Peńa
Peńa Law Group
Dr. Edwin LeMaster
The University of Texas Pan American
Tony Forina
STARS Student Scholarship Fund
Maritza Rodriguez
VAMOS Scholars
Dr. Dahlia Guerra
The University of Texas Pan American
Merida Escobar
South Texas Promotora Association
Mark Kent
McAllen ISD School Board Trustee
Debi Maqueda
Express Employment Professionals
Dago Garza
Texas Health and Human Services
Sonia Falcon
International Bank of Commerce (IBC)
Sabrina Walker
Boys and Girls Club of Edinburg
Robert Elizalde
State Farm Insurance
Dr. Teofilo Ozuna
The University of Texas Pan American
Robert Peńa
Edinburg CISD School Board Trustee
Heather Margain-Martinez
Shell Exploration & Production
Julie Chavez
Entravision Communications Corporation
Val Peisen
L&F Distributors
Chris Beck
McAllen High School
Sergio Contreras
AT&T
Dr. Cesar Maldonado
Texas State Technical College
Mario Reyna
South Texas College
Jerry Lee Berg
KRGV-TV (ABC)
Dr. Mary Alice Reyes
Teaching & Mentoring Communities

Texas Valley Communities Foundation

Gilbert Maldonado
Chief Executive Officer
Ernesto Villarreal
ENCORE Program Director
Giovanni Ferrigno
Financial Officer
Dan Garcia
ENCORE CAMP Director