BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ana María Vidal Cerra
President
With more than 14 years of experience in Program Development and Grant Management, Ana María is the Director of Programs for Banco Popular Foundation. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the Special Joint Commission on Legislative Funds for Community Impact, where she led the operational and conceptual reform of legislative grants. She has also served as manager of programs subsidized by the federal State Department with the Pan American Development Foundation and as advisor on Latin American affairs for the Democratic and Research Center, NDN & New Policy Institute in Washington, DC, among several others.
In addition, part of her work has been focused on gender issues, particularly the well-being of women of all genders, and the development of civil society in Latin America and Puerto Rico. She volunteered at DC SAFE, a hotline for survivors of domestic violence in Washington DC; and spent two years working with human rights organizations for the prevention of human trafficking in Mexico. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with concentrations in International Relations and Sociology from Tufts University, a Master of Arts in Government and Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University, a postgraduate certificate in Gender Studies and Education from the University of Chile, and is a Juris Doctor student at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.
Renata Beca Barragán
Vice President
Lawyer with more than five years of experience in areas such as health law, privacy, intellectual property and public policy.
Gisella Rivera Figueroa
Secretary
Her experience includes more than 18 years in the advertising and marketing industry in Puerto Rico. She has a bachelor's degree in Public Communication from the University of Puerto Rico, a master's degree in Marketing and Finance from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico and currently is completing a doctorate in History of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Throughout her advertising career, she directed the OMD Media Department for 5 years and was recently named media director for McCann Worldgroup San Juan. Her strong strategic and planning executions among the work for clients within the retail, automotive, pharmaceutical, beauty and financial industries earned her recognition as one of the successful executives under 40 ("40 Under 40") of the Caribbean newspaper Business of Puerto Rico.
Lara Mercado Maldonado
Treasurer
Holds a bachelor's degree in Art History and a Master's Degree in Journalism from the University of Puerto Rico and has served as a volunteer in several art-related organizations, as well as local political campaigns and fundraising. She has previous experience in journalism and radio production. She is currently the head of the office of Senator José Nadal Power.
Aurinés Torres Sánchez
Vocal
Specialist in Public Health Education and with a doctorate in Education. She has 25 years of experience designing and managing community health programs. She has a strong leadership track record in community organizations that serve vulnerable populations that are victims of social inequality, including survivors of domestic violence. She also masters the basic precepts of popular education in health, focused on promoting the empowerment of the community. She is currently a professor at the University of Puerto Rico in charge of community health and service learning courses at the School of Medicine and Pediatric Residency.
Modesto Lacén CEPEDA
Vocal
A native of Loíza, Puerto Rico, Modesto has performed for the past 23 years in film, television, theater and radio in Puerto Rico, the United States, Spain and Colombia. Understanding the value of academic education, he is a Magna Cum Laude graduate from the University of Puerto Rico with a bachelor's degree in theater arts. His training includes The Public Theater, Circle in the Square and a certificate in Art Administration from the School of Continuous Studies at New York University.
Yarí Vale Moreno
Vocal
Obstetrician-Gynecologist graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Puerto Rico and the State University of New York. She worked for the Albert Einstein School of Medicine and was trained in family planning with Dr. Rashbaum. She is a professor at the University of Puerto Rico and trains residents in family planning. She also has private practice and works in the Veterans Administration.
Vilmania Mambrú Tavarez
Vocal
Doctor in Clinical Psychology from the Carlos Albizu University in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She has worked as a professor at the Universidad del Este and as a therapist for the Program to Support Victims of Sexual Abuse at the Carlos Albizu University. She is currently the Director of Postgraduate Programs at the Metropolitan University of Cupey. She also maintains her private practice as a clinical psychologist, consultant, court expert and senior facilitator.
Linodka Figueroa López
Vocal
Accountant, with more than 15 years working in the finance industry and 10 years in the health industry. She has a strong background in community work through art and recreation.