Latinos For Education Continues Efforts to Diversify Education Boards in Houston 

The nonprofit launches second cohort of Latino Board Fellows featuring some of the area’s most influential Latino leaders. 

LBF Houston 2020 Group Photo

Houston, TX (February 6, 2020) – Latinos for Education announced the second Houston cohort of its Latino Board Fellowship on Thursday.  Selected from a highly competitive group of applicants, this year’s cohort features an exceptional pool of Fellows from some of the area’s preeminent media, oil and gas, philanthropic, business, and non-profit organizations.   

We are excited by the growth in influence of the Latino Board Fellowship which in only its second year has managed to tap into some of the most respected Latino voices in the Greater Houston area,” said Andy Canales, Executive Director of Greater Houston for Latinos for Education.  Their unique perspective and influence cannot be overstated, and their leadership is certain to be an invaluable asset to any nonprofit board, driving change for the more than 600,000 Latino students across Houston. 

Fellows will participate in a six-month program that will develop skillsets critical to effective board governance including the state of Latino education, governance, strategic planning, and diversity and inclusion. Fellows are then matched with local education organizations committed to increasing Latino representation on their boards. 

The organization is currently seeking new education nonprofits to partner with, in an effort to expand its reach across the Greater Houston education community.  

Among this year’s noteworthy participants is Giselle Rodriguez Greenwood, EditorinChief of the Houston Business Journal.  “I decided to join the fellowship to advance the academic success of students who may not otherwise have the same resources as others,” she said. “Harris County has the second-largest population of Latinos in the U.S. From a business perspective, that’s a huge opportunity to create a diverse and highly skilled workforce. 

The full Houston 2020 cohort of the Latino Board Fellowship includes: 

  • Sonia Corrales, Chief Program Officer, Houston Area Women’s Center 
  • Jesus De La Cerda, Supply Chain Manager, Occidental Petroleum Corporation 
  • Gustavo Fernandez, Asset Optimization Consultant, Phillips66 
  • Giselle Greenwood, Editor-in-Chief, Houston Business Journal 
  • Jessica Hinojosa, Organic Geochemist, Shell 
  • Juan Moreno-Gongora, IT Chief Architect, Leidos Innovations 
  • Misty Mousa-Lanza, Partnerships and Business Development Manager, Univision 
  • Fermin Rodriguez, Senior Process Engineer, Chevron 
  • Karla Sainz, Director of Organizational Initiatives, Arnold Ventures 
  • Perla Tamez, CEO, Dynamic Rehab Group LLC 

Education nonprofits interested in partnering with Latinos for Education to increase Latino representation on their boards are encouraged to contact the organization by emailing Andy Canales at [email protected] 

To access bios and photos of the 2020 Latino Board Fellows, click here. 

About Latinos for Education: 

Latinos for Education is an education non-profit organization focused on developing, placing, and connecting essential Latino talent in the education sector. The organization is mobilizing a network of skilled education leaders to ensure the voice of students and families is not only heard but factored into decision-making in schools, communities and education institutions throughout the U.S. Learn more at: www.LatinosforEducation.org.