I joined Identity’s Board of Directors because…
…I am passionate about Identity’s work supporting and empowering youth to build Montgomery County’s future!
….I want to help ensure members of our community have access to the resources they need that allow them to prosper, realize their dreams, and be successful in whatever they choose to do.
… as a Latino, I want to see our youth be given the same opportunities I was fortunate to be given, so they can live the life they’ve always dreamt about.
…I want to lend my service toward making Latino youth feel welcome and valued in our community.
…I believe the work that Identity does is crucial for supporting vulnerable communities.
…Identity has a powerful impact on Latino youth and families in Montgomery County.
…I want to do my part to address the challenges that face some Latino youth and families and to help create opportunities for all to thrive.
…I believe Identity is among the nation’s most effective and compassionate groups for helping Latino youth and families realize their highest potential.
…I want to give back, support and help create opportunities for the people of color that Identity serves.
…I strongly believe in Identity’s important mission and wish to help the organization achieve its goals.
… Identity works every day to build a better future for all, and especially those who would be overlooked without its help.
…it serves as an exemplary model of what it looks like to do transformative work with community to build pathways to human dignity.
…of its profound and inspiring mission and its demonstrated effectiveness in empowering Montgomery County’s Latino youth and their families to reach their potential.
…I wanted to work with Identity to improve the education of Latino students and assist their families to support the education and careers of their children.
…of the fundamental urgent need to engage, develop and empower the future generations of leaders who will shape a more compassionate, inclusive and just society.
Sarah Whitesell
Chair
Sarah Whitesell
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors because I am passionate about Identity’s work supporting and empowering Montgomery County youth to build our county’s future!”
Monica Marquina
Vice Chair
Monica Marquina
Monica Marquina is a legislative strategist with deep connections in Montgomery County. She currently serves as Government Affairs Manager with WSSC Water as a liaison to Montgomery County Government and municipalities. Previously, Monica worked for the City of Gaithersburg, most recently as the Legislative Affairs Manager where she successfully advocated for several MCPS Capital Improvement Projects as well as state funded grants for multiple City capital projects. Monica brings her perspective as a parent of MCPS students, former PTA officer, proud graduate of Gaithersburg High School, and her advocacy and communications expertise to her role as a member of the Advisory Committee to the Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence.
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors to advocate on behalf of Latino youth so they may be offered the opportunities and the means necessary to thrive and achieve. As a child of immigrants who grew up in a focus area served by Identity, I recognize the critical role Identity plays in narrowing the opportunity gap for our young people.”
Michael A. Jiménez, Jr.
Board Secretary
Michael A. Jiménez, Jr.
Michael A. Jiménez, Jr. is the co-owner of Capital Kids DC, an educational preschool and pre-kindergarten, in Washington, DC. Prior to this career change, Michael served as corporate counsel at a technology company. Michael was born and raised in Florida and earned his B.A. from Florida International University in Miami. He later earned his J.D. from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago. He has served on the Association of Corporate Counsel’s National Capital Region’s Diversity Programming Sub-Committee (2018-2020) and as an Associate Board Member of the Center for Economic Progress (2013-2016). As someone who identifies as mixed race, Latino, and gay, is married to a Muslim man, and has an adopted son, Michael champions diversity, inclusion, and equity both in and out of the office as those concepts are central to his family and life. As the owner of a childcare center and the parent of a young child, Michael is passionate about improving early childhood development and education in our community.
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors because I want to help ensure members of our community have access to the resources they need that allow them to prosper, realize their dreams, and be successful in whatever they choose to do.”
Kevin Toruno
Board Treasurer
Kevin Toruno
Kevin Toruno serves as the Chief Financial Officer for The Center of American Progress and he is also the President of AventuraGlobal.net. He has also served as the Chief Financial and Operations Officer for LIFT Inc. Kevin is a first-generation American and a proud graduate of Watkins Mill High School. He is also a first-generation college-goer. He earned a B.S. in Physiology and Neurobiology at the University of Maryland, College Park, a Master’s in Financial Management from the University of MD, University College, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of MD, University College and is a Certified Public Accountant candidate in the state of Maryland.
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors because as a Latino, I want to see our youth be given the same opportunities I was fortunate to be given so they can live the life they’ve always dreamt about. I want them to know nothing is impossible if you work hard and don’t let any setbacks stop you from reaching your goals.”
Shirley Brandman
Shirley Brandman
Shirley Brandman currently works as an education advocate in Montgomery County. She is Chair-Emeritus of the Board of Directors for Identity as well Chair of the Board of Advisors for the Universities at Shady Grove (USG). Most recently, Shirley worked as the founding Executive Director for the National Commission on Social, Emotional and Academic Development at the Aspen Institute. In 2014, Shirley completed two terms as an elected member of the Montgomery County Board of Education where she was twice selected to serve as President.While on the Board of Education, Shirley participated in countywide efforts directed at improving the wellbeing of youth. In 2011, then County Executive Leggett appointed her as a co-Chair of the countywide Latino Youth Collaborative Oversight Work group. Prior to her service on the Board of Education, Shirley directed the Domestic Violence Clinic at the Washington College of Law. She began her career as an attorney representing children and youth in abuse/neglect and juvenile delinquency cases in Newark, New Jersey and she launched the first Child Advocacy Clinic at Cornell Law School. Shirley is a graduate of Yale Law School and Yale University and earned her Master¹s Degree in Special Education from American University. She is a first generation American.
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors because our Latino youth are the future of Montgomery County. How effectively we educate them and support their dreams will shape the well-being of our County for years to come.”
I had been impressed by the high quality of Identity’s work and, as the child of immigrants myself, wanted to lend my service toward making Latino youth feel welcome and valued in our community.”
Gabriela Dveksler
Gabriela Dveksler
Gabriela Dveksler is a biomedical researcher in the field of immunology and a professor of pathology in the graduate program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda. Gabriela earned her Ph.D at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from the Center of Advanced Studies in Exact Sciences in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Gabriela moved to the United States from Buenos Aires more than three decades ago. She and her husband live in Montgomery County and their two sons attended MCPS. She joined the Board of Identity in 2021.
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors because I believe the work that Identity does is crucial for supporting vulnerable communities. I hope to contribute to this Institution with my experience as a science educator and parent of students that have navigated the MCPS school system.”
Stewart Edelstein, PhD
Stewart Edelstein
Stew Edelstein retired as the Executive Director of the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) and Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the University System of Maryland in October 2020. Under his leadership, he strengthened collaborations between USG, Montgomery College, and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), including ACES (Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success), which has enabled many MCPS graduates from diverse backgrounds to obtain baccalaureate degrees. Stew served on the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and received its Visionary Award. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Worksource Montgomery, the Montgomery County Advisory Board of the Greater Washington Community Foundation and is a member of Montgomery Moving Forward, a collective action group advocating for systemic change in early care and education in the county. He received his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California at Berkeley.
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors because of the powerful impact it has on Latino youth and families in Montgomery County.”
Steve Hull
Steve Hull
Steve Hull was the Founding Editor and Publisher of Bethesda Magazine and Bethesda Beat, and co-founder of Arlington Magazine (he sold the business in 2021). Before starting Bethesda Magazine in 2004, Steve spent 14 years as a senior executive with Atlantic Media Company (formerly National Journal Group), which publishes The Atlantic magazine. Prior to that, Steve was an editor of several business-to-business magazines, a newspaper reporter and editor, and a press secretary in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In addition to being on the Identity board, Steve serves on the Board of Advisors at the Universities at Shady Grove, the Community Foundation for Montgomery County, the Journalism Department at the University of Connecticut (his alma mater) and on the Board of Directors of Rock Creek Conservancy and The Day, a daily independent newspaper in New London, Connecticut. Steve lives in Chevy Chase with his wife Susan Hull. They have four grown children.
“I joined the Identity board because I want to do my part to address the challenges that face some Latino youth and families and to help create opportunities for all to thrive.”
Michael Knapp
Michael Knapp
Mike Knapp is CEO and Co-Founder of SkillSmart and has spent more than 30 years identifying opportunities to use technology to improve people’s lives and create economic opportunity. SkillSmart’s SaaS products make stronger communities by improving outcomes for economic projects by increasing diverse workforce and business participation and using skills-based applications to overcome the skills gap and improve hiring outcomes. Prior to beginning SkillSmart, he served two terms on the County Council of Montgomery County, MD, and was elected Council President, giving him first-hand insight into how growing a diverse pipeline of skilled workers and businesses can improve lives and communities and grow our economy.
Mike also founded Orion Ventures, managed business development at Celera Genomics, the National Center for Genome Resources, and The Institute for Genomic Research, and served as legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Peter V. Domenici of New Mexico. His current community activities include serving as chair of the Board of Trustees at Montgomery College, and as a member of the Board of Advisors at the Universities at Shady Grove, a founding chair of Montgomery Moving Forward and as a member of the board of the Healthcare Initiative Foundation and Identity, Inc.
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors because I believe this organization is among the nation’s most effective and compassionate organizations for helping Latino youth and families fulfill their goals and realize their highest potential.“
Ivonne Lindley
Ivonne Lindley
Ivonne Corsino Lindley is a Principal at the law firm of Stein Sperling Bennett Driscoll De Jong where she primarily handles personal injury claims and litigation. A genuine and long-standing desire to stand up for others drew Ms. Lindley to the field of personal injury law. She seeks to connect with and understand her clients as thoroughly as possible so that she can determine their individual needs and concerns, and thus successfully advocate on their behalf to insurance adjusters, juries, and judges. Prior to joining Stein Sperling in 2003, Ms. Lindley served as a law clerk in the Montgomery County Circuit Court. She has remained involved in law associations throughout her career and served for three years as a Commissioner for the Montgomery County Commission for Women. In her spare time, Ms. Lindley enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering to support her children’s school, sport and other community activities. Ms. Lindley earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland, and a Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School.
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors to give back, support and help create opportunities for the people of color that they serve. As a bilingual Latina woman who grew up in this county, and who is raising my family here, it is important for me to make sure these communities get all of the support they deserve.”
Stephen Metz
Stephen Metz
Stephen Metz is a Principal at the law firm of Offit Kurman, P.A. in Bethesda, Maryland. At Offit Kurman, he primarily handles all types of bankruptcy and real estate dispute matters. Previously, Mr. Metz was a member of Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, P.A. where he served as co-chair of the Bankruptcy & Creditors Rights Group and chair of the Title Dispute Resolution Group. Mr. Metz is a past president of the Bankruptcy Bar Association for the District of Maryland and is a member of the Montgomery County Bar Association, the Maryland State Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Simon E. Sobeloff Law Society and the Walter Chandler American Inn of Court. Prior to joining Shulman Rogers, Mr. Metz clerked for a judge in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland. He also clerked for several judges in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. Mr. Metz has also been awarded a top AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has repeatedly been named to Maryland SuperLawyers. Mr. Metz earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Logistics from the University of Maryland and a Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the Dickinson School of Law at the Pennsylvania State University.
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors because I strongly believe in Identity’s important mission and wish to help Identity achieve its mission and goals. Because of my professional background, I am particularly interested in financial literacy issues.”
Christian J. Mixter
Christian J. Mixter
Christian “Chris” J. Mixter first connected with Identity in 2018 as a Compass volunteer consultant and then joined the Board in 2020. He serves as Counsel (Retired Partner) with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP in Washington DC. Previously, he was Chief Litigation Council with the Division of Enforcement for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and Associate Counsel with the Office of the Independent Counsel (Iran/Contra). Chris earned his JD at Duke University and his BA at Ohio State University.
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors because Identity works every day to build a better future for all, and especially those who would be overlooked without its help.”
Gislene Tasayco
Gislene Tasayco
Gislene Tasayco is a consultant at the American Institutes for Research. Currently, she is the deputy director on a set of projects focused on providing evidence-backed support across education, community development, and the criminal legal system. Before joining AIR, she was a Senior Associate at the National League of Cities where she managed cross-functional initiatives and programs to drive community-centered change through education, technology, and authentic youth and community engagement. Gislene advises national and global leaders on a range of issues to explore physical environments and learning tools to promote learning ecosystems, working with interdisciplinary partners to pioneer the Community Learning Hub model. Prior, Gislene worked within and outside of government agencies and nonprofit organizations to integrate positive youth development more effectively within public systems. In 2017, then County Executive Leggett appointed her to serve on the county-wide local management board of the Montgomery County Collaboration Council as well as an appointment by Mayor Ashman to serve on the Educational Enrichment Committee of the City of Gaithersburg. Gislene’s work is rooted in her lived experience as a formerly undocumented, first-generation Latina from Peru and a lifelong participant of expanded learning programs in Montgomery County. She has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from Trinity Washington University, an associate’s degree from Montgomery Community College, and a data science specialization from Johns Hopkins University.
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors because it serves as an exemplary model of what it looks like to do transformative work with community to build pathways to human dignity – honoring differences, where interactions are thoughtful, and everyone’s humanity is seen. As a former MCPS student, former Identity employee, and lifelong resident of Montgomery County, I have witnessed the powerful impact of Identity firsthand.”
Diego Uriburu
Ex Officio
Diego Uriburu
Diego is co-founder of Identity and served as Deputy Executive Director from 2004 to July 2011 when he assumed the position of Executive Director. In this capacity, he is responsible for the strategic direction of the organization and stewardship of a broad range of federal, state, local and private grants. Prior to co-founding Identity, Diego worked as a psychotherapist at various community-based organizations in the Washington, DC area that work with the Latino population. Diego participates in a several Montgomery County task forces and working groups: he is Co-Chair of the Latino Youth Collaborative Oversight Committee and of the steering committee of the Latino Health Initiative; and member of the steering committee of Nonprofit Montgomery and the Latino Public Safety Workgroup. Diego holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Belgrano in Argentina.
Tal B. Widdes
Tal Widdes
Tal B. Widdes retired in 2018 after serving for 14 years as Chief Operating Officer of the Jewish Social Service Agency. Previously, for twenty years, Tal served in leadership positions as Vice President and Brand Manager of Assisted Living and Special Care for Marriott Senior Living Services and Manor Care Health Services. Tal earned her MPH at Yale University, and her M.Ed and B.A. at the University of Rochester. Tal joined the Identity Board in 2020 and also serves on the Board of JCRC. Tal emigrated to the United States in 1968.
“I joined the Identity Board of Directors because of its profound and inspiring mission and its demonstrated effectiveness in empowering Montgomery County’s Latino youth and their families to reach their potential. What a unique honor to extend my life’s work and passion for pursuing-change-making a difference in people’s lives, transforming their challenges to possibilities for success and dignity!”
Teresa Wright
Board Member Emerita
Teresa Wright
Teresa Wright has worked in Montgomery County Public Schools since 1979, where she pioneered staff cultural awareness training and initiated programs to increase the involvement of Latino parents in the school system. She has been a Parent Resource Teacher in MCPS’s Division of ESOL and Bilingual Programs since 1995. Teresa has been working tirelessly to ensure that immigrant families and their children in the Gaithersburg and Watkins Mill clusters have an opportunity to achieve success. Her work extends well beyond school-related issues. She is a member of the County Executive’s Latin American Advisory Group and was a founding member of the County’s Hispanic Alliance. She also served on the Montgomery County Latino Youth Collaborative, and worked with Family Services to open the Teen Mom Center in Gaithersburg. Born in Mexico City, she earned an undergraduate degree from the Normal Superior School of Guadalajara and a master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana. Teresa has been honored with countless awards, among them Identity’s Teresa Wright Award for excellence in service to Latino youth, which was created in her honor in 2011.
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors because I wanted to work with Identity to improve the education of Latino students and assist their families to support the education and careers of their children.”
Alejandro Yepes
Alejandro Yepes
Alejandro Yepes brings to Identity a history of leadership positions in large and small organizations and commitment to social justice and community development. Alejandro currently volunteers with Friends of White Flint and KID Museum and manages a real estate investment partnership. Previously, he served as Senior Policy Associate with Bridgewater Associates, Program Manager for Onboarding at the World Bank Group, and in the District of Columbia Government. Alejandro earned his MPP-UP at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He has a long history of activism, primarily related to children, youth, and economic development. Alejandro is fluent in French, Portuguese, and Spanish.
“I joined Identity’s Board of Directors because of the fundamental urgent need to engage, develop and empower the future generations of leaders who will shape a more compassionate, inclusive and just society.”