Skip to content

Meet the Staff

Headquartered in Los Angeles, but with satellite offices in Washington, DC and around the U.S., our team is always available to support and advance the mission of SHPE. Your Familia is just a call or click away. We look forward to hearing from you!

Executive Management & Staff

Suzanna Valdez Wolfe

Suzanna Valdez Wolfe

CEO
Ernesto “Ernie” Felix

Ernesto “Ernie” Felix

Chief of Staff & Human Resources
Monique Herrera

Monique Herrera

Chief External Relations Officer
Rhonda McNeil

Rhonda McNeil

Chief Administration Officer
Alejandra Baez CMP

Alejandra Baez CMP

Manager, Events
Andrea D. Beattie, M.A.

Andrea D. Beattie, M.A.

Manager, Research and Impact
Susan Arnold Christian

Susan Arnold Christian

Director, Research & Impact
Yajaira De La Paz

Yajaira De La Paz

Director of Development & Major Gifts
Mariana Acuña Delgado

Mariana Acuña Delgado

Director, Government Relations & Public Affairs
Anna Devatour

Anna Devatour

Event Coordinator
Deanna Drako

Deanna Drako

Manager, Research & Impact
Raquel Elorriaga

Raquel Elorriaga

External Relations Coordinator
Avis Fillingham, CMP

Avis Fillingham, CMP

Senior Events Manager, Events
Liliana González, MPA

Liliana González, MPA

Manager, Research & Impact
Melissa Gonzales

Melissa Gonzales

Director of External Relations
Meredith Gonzalez

Meredith Gonzalez

Manager, Housing & Registration, Events
Jen Linck MBA

Jen Linck MBA

Contractor, Marketing
Myriam Lopez

Myriam Lopez

Manager, Partnerships and Employer Services
Dr. Dayna L. Martínez

Dr. Dayna L. Martínez

Sr. Director, Research & Impact
Rose Martinez

Rose Martinez

Manager, Equipando Padres, Research & Innovation
Alexis Medrano

Alexis Medrano

Systems Administrator, IT
Ruben Mercado

Ruben Mercado

InternSHPE Program Manager, Research & Impact
Anna G. Patrick

Anna G. Patrick

Manager, Member and Chapter Relations
Rebecca Pebley

Rebecca Pebley

Manager, Events
Juan Ponce

Juan Ponce

Systems Analyst
Dr. Ana Rodriguez

Dr. Ana Rodriguez

Manager, Research & Impact
Giovanna Salazar

Giovanna Salazar

Social Media Manager, Marketing
Dr. Josué R. Sandigo, MCG

Dr. Josué R. Sandigo, MCG

Senior Director of Information Technology
Demian Servin Hernandez

Demian Servin Hernandez

Senior Manager, Marketing
Ashleigh Tierney MEd

Ashleigh Tierney MEd

Sr. Director, Research & Impact
Shannon Whittle

Shannon Whittle

HR Analyst & Project Manager
Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams

Manager, Administration
Isabel Woods

Isabel Woods

SHPE Controller

Suzanna Valdez Wolfe

CEO

Location

Miami, FL

Ernesto “Ernie” Felix

Chief of Staff & Human Resources

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
Will work and collaborate with SHPE staff to review people development programs, see if there are opportunities to make SHPE a better place to work.  Collaborate with SHPE Leadership Team identify potential efficiencies.  Observe, listen & get ideas from folks.
What was your first job?
Paper Boy

Location

Sacramento, CA

Monique Herrera

Chief External Relations Officer

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
Sponsors are my jam!
What is one interesting fact about you?
Before working at SHPE I worked in the fashion industry and was a swimwear and intimate apparel buyer.

Location

New York, NY

Rhonda McNeil

Chief Administration Officer

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
Support SHPE's mission by managing Finance, IT, HR, and Contracting.
What was your first job?
I worked as a bus-girl and waitress starting at age 14.

Location

Sand Springs, OK

Alejandra Baez CMP

Manager, Events

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I assist in making the magic happen for the National Convention
Which fictional family would you want to be a part of and why?
La familia Madrigal from Encanto because in the end everyone is special. Gift or no gift.

Location

Frisco, TX

Andrea D. Beattie, M.A.

Manager, Research and Impact

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
​I manage the data and assessment projects for SHPE.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I am from Laredo, TX, a city that borders Mexico in southern Texas. Laredo has the largest land port to Mexico and is known for its month-long Washington's Birthday Celebration.

Location

Laredo, Texas

Susan Arnold Christian

Director, Research & Impact

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
Coordinate the MentorSHPE program, and I design and implement components for the InternSHPE program to support SHPE members and our corporate partners.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I grew up in the Dakotas and Kansas but loved going "home" to Florida once a year to see all the cousins and grandparents. It gave me a great appreciation of all seasons but I do love winter the most!

Location

Kansas City, MO

Yajaira De La Paz

Director of Development & Major Gifts

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I am a community builder & STEM advocate of pre-college and collegiate programs facilitating spaces of belonging with our members and parents. Currently, designing a first-year college experience program for Equipando Padres- empowering & equipping parents with tools in engineering education
What was your first job?
My first job was working as a hostess for Acapulco Playa Restaurant. Endless chips and salsa with an ocean breeze were a plus! 

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Mariana Acuña Delgado

Director, Government Relations & Public Affairs

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
Strengthen and develop relationships with Congressional leaders, agency members, and the White House to lift SHPE’s mission and expertise in closing the STEM education gap for the Hispanic community, to ensure that in the legislative process SHPE is always at the table.
Which fictional family would you want to be a part of and why?
The Rose family (Schitt's Creek) so that I learn how to fold in the cheese, dance to "A little bit Alexis", but mostly say "Ew David".

Location

Bellevue, WA

Anna Devatour

Event Coordinator

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I am one of the event coordinators. Making sure the committee members are prepared for NC. Also assisting all managers in the department.
Which fictional family would you want to be a part of and why?
I would like to be a part of the Incredibles, even though they are a family of four together they can take on any mission.

Location

Coldspring, TX

Deanna Drako

Manager, Research & Impact

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I work to create, manage, and facilitate K-12 STEM programming.
Which fictional family would you want to be a part of and why?
I am a 90s baby so I would want to be a part of the Callaway family from the movie It Takes Two.

Location

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Raquel Elorriaga

External Relations Coordinator

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I provide support to our sponsors pertaining to our National Convention and Spring Conferences.
What is one interesting fact about you?
In my downtime I sing, play guitar, write, record, and perform music professionally. I have even had the opportunity to be a backup vocalist for gigs in venues as big as The Forum in Los Angeles.

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Avis Fillingham, CMP

Senior Events Manager, Events

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
As part of the Events Team, I help bring exceptional experiences to our members attending any of our events.
What was your first job?
My first job outside of working on the family farm was as a fry cook at a local drive-in restaurant.

Location

Plano, TX

Liliana González, MPA

Manager, Research & Impact

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
Support SHPE's mission by managing the development and execution of the Equipando Padres and Pre-College programs.
What was your first job?
I was a cashier at my favorite thrift store.

Location

Houston, TX

Melissa Gonzales

Director of External Relations

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
Responsible for creating and strengthening relationships between SHPE members and Partner organizations that will last a lifetime.
What was your first job?
Worked for a Youth Enrichment Program at 14, where they promote healthy youth development, and we would go to the pool all summer long!

Location

St. Petersburg, FL

Meredith Gonzalez

Manager, Housing & Registration, Events

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
Manage the Registration and Housing of SHPE events.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I was the one who proposed to my husband!

Location

Arlington, Texas

Jen Linck MBA

Contractor, Marketing

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I make SHPE sparkle and shine with beautiful marketing and illuminating communications.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I've got a hilarious pug named Sir Charles Barkley and two senior cats, Donny & Marie. No, they do not get along.

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Myriam Lopez

Manager, Partnerships and Employer Services

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I manage the partnership with companies that sponsor and support our SHPE Regional Conferences and NILA.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I was SHPEtinas co-lead as a student, interned with Northrop Grumman during undergrad, and graduated in Mechanical Engineering from UCSD.

Location

San Diego, CA

Dr. Dayna L. Martínez

Sr. Director, Research & Impact

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I manage the design and development of Equipando Padres, collaborate with research and data analysis, program evaluation, and coordinate our GRADS programming.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, love our food, there's nothing better in the world than a mofongo stuffed with churrasco.

Location

Orlando, FL

Rose Martinez

Manager, Equipando Padres, Research & Innovation

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
Support SHPE's mission by managing the development and execution of the Equipando Padres University program.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I revived Spanish fluency in my family through academic study and local immersion. I am pleased to say that my youngest son is fully bilingual!

Location

Denver, Colorado

Alexis Medrano

Systems Administrator, IT

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I maintain the calm among staff with technical support and troubleshooting problems.  Nobody move! Everything is working!
Which fictional family would you want to be a part of and why?
The Flintstones Family of Bedrock. Reason is because I have always held a deep feeling that I was born in the wrong era of time!

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Ruben Mercado

InternSHPE Program Manager, Research & Impact

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I help connect students and companies for exciting and fulfilling internship opportunities.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I moved around a lot due to my father’s work growing up and went to 4 different high schools.

Location

San Antonio, Texas

Anna G. Patrick

Manager, Member and Chapter Relations

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?

My focus is to ensure that members experience a high level of excellence, service, and support throughout their journey at SHPE.

What was your first job?
As a teenager, I was a sales associate at Famous Footwear in the Houston area. I still rearrange the boxes when shopping at shoe stores. Yes, I know it is a bit weird!

Location

Missouri City, Texas

Rebecca Pebley

Manager, Events

What do you do for SHPE?
I work with an amazing team to create the best spring conferences for our chapters!
What was your first job?
I worked at Rushville Florist first as an admin and worked my way up to be a seasonal florist. Bow making is still one of my specialties.

Location

Columbus, Indiana

Juan Ponce

Systems Analyst

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I provide technical support when a computer isn't computing like it should.
What was your first job?
My first job was at a pizzeria making pizza calzones!

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Dr. Ana Rodriguez

Manager, Research & Impact

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I assist speakers of our convention with coaching, presentations and overall content. In addition, I assist with evaluations for all of our events.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I have two black/tan Chihuahuas and on average I read over 21 books in a year.

Location

Alexandria, VA

Giovanna Salazar

Social Media Manager, Marketing

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I manage SHPE’s social media platforms.
What was your first job?
My first job was working at my aunt’s Mexican bakery.

Location

Lafayette, IN

Dr. Josué R. Sandigo, MCG

Senior Director of Information Technology

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I turn it off and on.
What is one interesting fact about you?
i am afraid of open waters despite completing over 20 triathlons.

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Demian Servin Hernandez

Senior Manager, Marketing

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
Marketing, education and design are my passion. I love telling stories that connect with people’s hearts and minds.
What was your first job?
My first job was at a photography studio where I was able to immerse myself working with Adobe Photoshop.

Location

Lake Arrowhead, CA

Ashleigh Tierney MEd

Sr. Director, Research & Impact

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I lead MentorSHPE, InternSHPE, ScholarSHPE, Excel con SHPE, and professional development programs at SHPE.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I lived in Kansas for more than twenty years but never personally experienced a tornado until moving to Nebraska.

Location

NE

Shannon Whittle

HR Analyst & Project Manager

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I support HR functions for SHPE and ensure our employees have what they need to be successful beginning with onboarding and beyond.
What was your first job?
I worked at an ice cream shop at 17 and have been slightly burned out on ice cream ever since!

Location

Lincolnton, NC

Michelle Williams

Manager, Administration

What do you do for SHPE in 25 words or fewer?
I am the primary point of contact for an amazing administrative leadership team.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I love cartoons. My favorite animated movie is Vivo, because I love to dance to “My Own Drum.”

Location

Washington, DC

Isabel Woods

SHPE Controller

What do you do for SHPE?
Provide financial support and assistance in all grants processes
What was your first job?
Amnesty program teacher for adults who were working on establishing citizenship in the U.S..

Location

Laredo, Texas

Want to Join the SHPE Team?

Inspire others to dream more, learn more, and do more. Become a staff member for the SHPE familia. Your community will thank you (and so will we!).

  翻译: