STAFF & BOARD

Staff

Alicia Rascon - Chief Executive Officer
Laura Donnelly - Chief Operations Officer

Board of Directors

Bibi Lobo - Board Chair
Federico Subervi - Past Board Chair
Esmeralda Gonzalez - Treasurer
Veronica Garza - Recording Secretary
Geri Luna Wilson - Consejeras Liaison
Becky Arreaga
Sam Eder
Evelyn Escamilla
Vicky Garza

Staff & Board Bios

Chief Executive Officer/Latinitas Co-Founder: Alicia Rascon
Alicia Rascon was born in Jalisco , Mexico and grew up in El Paso , Texas. She has been a development associate for the Austin Children’s Museum and has worked in non-profit and Hispanic media as a production assistant at National Public Radio’s Latino USA and as the director of communications for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates ) of Travis County. Following college, Alicia worked as a reading specialist for bilingual students through Americorps and taught part-time for the Austin Independent School District. She graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Texas with a minor in Mexican American studies. A co-founder of Latinitas, Rascon is dedicated to providing new opportunities to help Hispanic girls realize their potential. As Director of Community Outreach, she oversees Latinitas camps, workshops and presentations. Alicia has volunteered throughout her life for numerous cultural groups including LULAC, the Junior League Hispanic Mother/Daughter Program, and La Luz de Amistad. She is currently a member of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas and has served on the board of Girl Scouts – Lone Star Council.

Chief Operating Officer/Latinitas Co-Founder: Laura Donnelly
Laura Donnelly was a book publicist for eight years in New York City , working with authors such as Michael Crichton, Erica Jong, Maya Angelou and former President Jimmy Carter, until she realized she wanted to generate her own media. A “big sister” in Big Brothers/Big Sisters for ten years, she had long been inspired to create a forum for “girl speak.” She received her undergraduate degree in English at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison , NJ and a masters in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin . She currently works part-time at Latinitas, and part-time as a publicist. The co-founder of Latinitas and Teen Latinitas, Laura is strongly dedicated to empowering Latina youth. As program director, she manages Latinitas after school programming. She is also a documentary filmmaker producing a short work titled, “Capirotada,” which was featured in South by Southwest Film Festival.

Board Chair: Bibi Lobo
Born in Havana , Cuba , Bibi Lobo has worked throughout her career to increase opportunities for success for all children. She began her work as a preschool substitute teacher in Lansing , Michigan , where she studied international relations and public policy at Michigan State University . Upon moving to Austin , Texas , she taught preschool and served as President of the Austin Association for the Education of Young Children and participated in numerous leadership activities, in Washington D.C. and around the country. She finished her studies at the University of Texas at Austin and received a bachelor’s degree in social work. Bibi worked at the Corporate Fund for Children for six years. During that time, she established a clearinghouse, managed a statewide federally-funded scholarship program the Child Development Associate, and directed the Children’s Legislative Links, a statewide advocacy network. Later she founded the National Latino Children’s Institute, where she coordinated many of the programs developed for young Latinos. She was instrumental in guiding NLCI’s research of youth issues, and provided the leadership for youth involvement in policy and program development. Bibi oversees Latinitas’ consejeros, a group of professional men and women who provide in-kind support and guidance. Consejeros are journalists, lawyers and public relations and marketing professionals. She held annual forums with young Latinos throughout the country to explore their opportunities and barriers. Bibis served as the vice president from 1997-2004. Bibi has served on numerous committees and boards at the state and national levels, including the National Center for the Early Childhood Workforce and the board of Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklórico de Texas; she is past-president of the Austin Association for the Education of Young Children. She is a 1997 alumna of the National Hispana Leadership program and served on that board for six years. She is currently vice president of Latinitas’ board of directors.

Past Board Chair: Federico Subervi-Velez
For over twenty years, Federico Subervi-Velez has been working in mass communication in an effort to raise awareness and attention to the experiences of Latinos. Formerly the University of Texas at Austin ’s RTF Graduate Advisor, Subervi-Velez is currently a professor at Texas State University . Earning his Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin at Madison , Subervi-Velez has gone on to obtain over $575,000 for research projects on a variety of topics pertaining to ethnic issues and communication, and is currently writing a book titled Mass Media and Latino Politics: Case studies of media content, communication strategies, and survey research, 1984-1996. Latinitas was developed in Subervi-Velez’s Latinos and Media class at UT. Currently, he builds and attracts board leadership to Latinitas, helps in fundraising for after school programs and is a link to a workforce of volunteer student interns at his current position at Texas State . In addition to his teaching, publications, and research on Latinos and the media, his international research has focused on the media system of Puerto Rico ; and the images of Blacks and other ethnic groups in Brazilian television. Subervi-Velez has served as advisor or consultant to various public and private entities such as: Fox Kids Network, Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer, The Dallas Morning News, The National Museum of American History, The National Council of La Raza, Harvard University's Joan Shorenstein Barone Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, United States Commission on Civil Rights, The Tomás Rivera Policy Institute, and The National Latino Children's Institute.

Consejeras Liaison: Geri Luna Wilson
Geri Luna Wilson is as a career counselor with WorkSource. She has served as an early education specialist at the Child’s Way Creative Learning Center . Wilson has worked hands-on with the needs and challenges of Latina youth as a former administrator for the National Latino Children’s Institute, as a human resource director for six years and with five years in Yuba-Sutter County Child Abuse Council, Yuba City , CA . A mother of two and a committed member of Austin ’s Las Comadres Network, Wilson achieved her bachelor’s degree from Antioch University West in Los Angeles , CA in Child Development and Psychology. Wilson brings 25 years of experience in curriculum development, staff training, career counseling, and special events coordinating to Latinitas’ board.