"Education is the gift that can never be taken away."

Board and Staff

Board and Staff

Monica Santos is a native of California. She received her BA in Liberal Studies and Bilingual Teaching Credential from Loyola Marymount University and has a Masters from the University of San Diego in Nonprofit Leadership and Management.

Monica worked as a Dual Immersion teacher in the public schools in Los Angeles and Chula Vista, California for more than 20 years. She is the Founder and Director of Advancing Students Forward-A Su Futuro, an educational nonprofit that has served students in Tijuana, Mexico since 1984.

Monica Santos is a native of California. She received her BA in Liberal Studies and Bilingual Teaching Credential from Loyola Marymount University and has a Masters from the University of San Diego in Nonprofit Leadership and Management.

Monica worked as a Dual Immersion teacher in the public schools in Los Angeles and Chula Vista, California for more than 20 years. She is the Founder and Director of Advancing Students Forward-A Su Futuro, an educational nonprofit that has served students in Tijuana, Mexico since 1984.

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Odesma is a proponent of education equity as a key mechanism for ensuring just social growth and development. As a trained engineering education scholar, Odesma’s professional and service work is focused on transforming engineering education and its public image; making it more inclusive, and socially connected. Odesma is an assistant professor in the Industrial and Systems Engineering program at University of San Diego.

She has co-developed and maintained three successful science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) education outreach programs: STEAM Labs, STEAM TEAM Academy and the STEAM Youth and Community Conference. Starting in 2015, Odesma has worked closely with ASF students during monthly meetings. Odesma holds a PhD in Engineering Education from Purdue University and a MEng. in Industrial Engineering and a BS in Electrical Engineering, both from Morgan State University.

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Odesma is a proponent of education equity as a key mechanism for ensuring just social growth and development. As a trained engineering education scholar, Odesma’s professional and service work is focused on transforming engineering education and its public image; making it more inclusive, and socially connected. Odesma is an assistant professor in the Industrial and Systems Engineering program at University of San Diego.

She has co-developed and maintained three successful science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) education outreach programs: STEAM Labs, STEAM TEAM Academy and the STEAM Youth and Community Conference. Starting in 2015, Odesma has worked closely with ASF students during monthly meetings. Odesma holds a PhD in Engineering Education from Purdue University and a MEng. in Industrial Engineering and a BS in Electrical Engineering, both from Morgan State University.

As a board member since 2005, Jennifer has become increasingly more excited about the growth, good work and development of Advancing Students Forward. Her passion for volunteering began early in life with service projects in Belize, the Dominican Republic, Boston and South Africa.

Since her move to the west coast, Jenn has been active in various humanitarian organizations in and around Tijuana. As a Registered Nurse for women and newborns in San Diego, she gets many opportunities to practice her improving Spanish. Jennifer received a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Merrimack College and a BSN from Villanova University.

As a board member since 2005, Jennifer has become increasingly more excited about the growth, good work and development of Advancing Students Forward. Her passion for volunteering began early in life with service projects in Belize, the Dominican Republic, Boston and South Africa.

Since her move to the west coast, Jenn has been active in various humanitarian organizations in and around Tijuana. As a Registered Nurse for women and newborns in San Diego, she gets many opportunities to practice her improving Spanish. Jennifer received a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Merrimack College and a BSN from Villanova University.

Born in and raised in Mexico, Gabriel has a strong passion for fighting the blatant inequality that exists there, and believes that education is the key in bridging that gap.

As an attorney with the San Diego Public Defender’s Office, he fights for the rights of indigent clients every day. Gabriel has spent his legal career helping organizations that defend social issues like homelessness, illegal immigration, and discrimination.

Gabriel’s other passion is art. As a business owner, he contributes time and resources into promoting art in the community by organizing local art shows in his business to promote local artists. Gabriel holds a Bachelors degree from the University of California, San Diego, a Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law, and is licensed by the State Bar of California.

Born in and raised in Mexico, Gabriel has a strong passion for fighting the blatant inequality that exists there, and believes that education is the key in bridging that gap.

As an attorney with the San Diego Public Defender’s Office, he fights for the rights of indigent clients every day. Gabriel has spent his legal career helping organizations that defend social issues like homelessness, illegal immigration, and discrimination.

Gabriel’s other passion is art. As a business owner, he contributes time and resources into promoting art in the community by organizing local art shows in his business to promote local artists. Gabriel holds a Bachelors degree from the University of California, San Diego, a Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law, and is licensed by the State Bar of California.

Robin has a M.C.P. in Urban Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology with specializations in economic development and real estate, and a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego (Revelle College), in Anthropology and Teaching. She is the past director of the State of Nevada’s Rural Economic Development Program, holding appointments by former Governors Bryan and Miller. She has been active in land preservation projects and issues in Santee and East County for the past 25 years.

Robin, a founding employee of the River Park, has written several multi-million dollar grants for property acquisition and restoration. Her work for the River Park brings her into multi-faceted issues or restoration, water quality, trail development but also community outreach, public education and working with the homeless population in the San Diego River. Robin also spent several years working at a children’s home in Tecate, where she came to love Mexico and its children.

Robin has a M.C.P. in Urban Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology with specializations in economic development and real estate, and a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego (Revelle College), in Anthropology and Teaching. She is the past director of the State of Nevada’s Rural Economic Development Program, holding appointments by former Governors Bryan and Miller. She has been active in land preservation projects and issues in Santee and East County for the past 25 years.

Robin, a founding employee of the River Park, has written several multi-million dollar grants for property acquisition and restoration. Her work for the River Park brings her into multi-faceted issues or restoration, water quality, trail development but also community outreach, public education and working with the homeless population in the San Diego River. Robin also spent several years working at a children’s home in Tecate, where she came to love Mexico and its children.

Originally from Oxnard, California, Alejandro has been fighting for Social Justice his entire life. As the son of a farmworker, his earliest memories consist of being hoisted on his father’s shoulders as his family marched and chanted during protests for farmworker rights. That call for justice began at a young age and has never ceased.

Alejandro has always worked off the belief that learning is a lifelong process, only truly done at your own pace. He looks to listen and learn from others, regardless of age and experience. Alejandro joins us with considerable professional experience in the fields of Housing, Leadership Development and Parent Engagement.

In his free time, he enjoys photography, discovering new music, reading and participating in all things sports. He also loves being a father to his young daughter, Emma.

Alejandro holds a BS in Management Consulting from the University of Notre Dame.

Originally from Oxnard, California, Alejandro has been fighting for Social Justice his entire life. As the son of a farmworker, his earliest memories consist of being hoisted on his father’s shoulders as his family marched and chanted during protests for farmworker rights. That call for justice began at a young age and has never ceased.

Alejandro has always worked off the belief that learning is a lifelong process, only truly done at your own pace. He looks to listen and learn from others, regardless of age and experience. Alejandro joins us with considerable professional experience in the fields of Housing, Leadership Development and Parent Engagement.

In his free time, he enjoys photography, discovering new music, reading and participating in all things sports. He also loves being a father to his young daughter, Emma.

Alejandro holds a BS in Management Consulting from the University of Notre Dame.

Jorge Guzman is originally from Tijuana, Baja California Mexico. He earned a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering from “Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana, Mexico.

Jorge currently works for Medtronic in New Haven, Connecticut as a Manufacturing Engineer, specializing in medical devices with certifications in six sigma and project management.

He enjoys reading, hiking, running, and exploring new cultures.

Jorge serves on the ASF Board of Directors because he wants to make a difference and add value to the organization. He was a participant of ASF as a beneficiary from the age of 12 when he was in middle school until he completed his university degree. He wants to support other students by sharing his experience and knowledge to achieve their academic dreams.

Jorge Guzman is originally from Tijuana, Baja California Mexico. He earned a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering from “Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana, Mexico.

Jorge currently works for Medtronic in New Haven, Connecticut as a Manufacturing Engineer, specializing in medical devices with certifications in six sigma and project management.

He enjoys reading, hiking, running, and exploring new cultures.

Jorge serves on the ASF Board of Directors because he wants to make a difference and add value to the organization. He was a participant of ASF as a beneficiary from the age of 12 when he was in middle school until he completed his university degree. He wants to support other students by sharing his experience and knowledge to achieve their academic dreams.

Mariaelena Gonzalez is the Vice President of Integrations and Reengineering for Confie, the largest personal lines agency in the US. She is a seasoned professional with 28 years of experience in diverse industries. Her background includes the Federal Reserve Bank, Lexicon, Xerox, Trusted Hands Network, and consulting for bio-tech companies.

She holds an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a BA from California State University, Fullerton. Her non-profit experience includes being the founding Executive Director of the Ingles Sin Barreras Foundation.

As a Colombian native, she is bilingual in Spanish. She resides in Los Angeles, has two teenagers and a 1.5 year-old English Bulldog. She loves hosting events for her family and friends, dancing, traveling, and practicing energy healing. Her motto is “Live life to the fullest – life is too short to waste it.”

Mariaelena Gonzalez is the Vice President of Integrations and Reengineering for Confie, the largest personal lines agency in the US. She is a seasoned professional with 28 years of experience in diverse industries. Her background includes the Federal Reserve Bank, Lexicon, Xerox, Trusted Hands Network, and consulting for bio-tech companies.

She holds an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a BA from California State University, Fullerton. Her non-profit experience includes being the founding Executive Director of the Ingles Sin Barreras Foundation.

As a Colombian native, she is bilingual in Spanish. She resides in Los Angeles, has two teenagers and a 1.5 year-old English Bulldog. She loves hosting events for her family and friends, dancing, traveling, and practicing energy healing. Her motto is “Live life to the fullest – life is too short to waste it.”

Gabrielle Mark-Bachoua graduated from the University of California, Davis with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Philosophy. After spending time teaching English in Mexico and improving her Spanish, she felt compelled to give back to her community in the San Diego-Tijuana binational region. She cares deeply about issues facing the border region, and the innovative ways we can partner to make the borderlands a better place for all.

Gabrielle Mark-Bachoua graduated from the University of California, Davis with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Philosophy. After spending time teaching English in Mexico and improving her Spanish, she felt compelled to give back to her community in the San Diego-Tijuana binational region. She cares deeply about issues facing the border region, and the innovative ways we can partner to make the borderlands a better place for all.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE