OUR TEAM

As the Acting President & CEO, Andrew leads the Indiana Latino Institute’s strategic operations and statewide programming, overseeing organizational growth and community impact across Indiana. Andrew has worked in education in different capacities since 2006. From working with ESL students in Indianapolis to teaching high school in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, he has continued to serve the Latino community in their pursuit of higher education and workforce development. He serves on the board of Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis and has been recognized with the 2024 Impact Award for College Career Development Professional of the Year and the 2024 Mayor’s Community Service Award. Andrew has presented internationally, including at the Foro de Educación Migrante México – Estados Unidos in Mexico City. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from Indiana University, an M.S. in Inclusive Education from Nyack College in New York, and is currently working on a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership and is an alumnus of the ILI Latino Leadership Circle.

Dr. Danny Mendez holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Indiana State University.  His 23 year career as an educator includes 18 years of school/district leadership that spans the entire K-12 spectrum. He served as a Principal at the elementary, middle, and high school level, as well as central office.  In addition, he worked with leadership teams from over 100 schools that were seeking guidance for growth.
Dr. Mendez had previously served on the Indiana Commission on Hispanic Latino Affairs and as a President of District 7 and 9 for the Indiana Association of School Principals.  These roles have helped deepen his knowledge of education policy so that he could advocate at both the state and national level.

Maria Quiroz-Southwood has her Bachelor and Master’s in social work from Indiana University.  She has dedicated her 25+ years of professional life, using her bilingual skills and working in the non-for-profit sector with a focus on the Latino community in health, education, volunteer and social services.  She has a broad range of skills and experience in program development, grant writing, training, and community collaboration with a passion to serve non-for-profit, mission driven organizations.  Maria has worked in both the health and education programs at ILI in her 10+ years with the organization.   Her current role oversees the grants in Workforce Development and Pathways to Careers, along with assisting Latino college students through college coaching over their years in higher education.   She also manages both the ILI Academic and Alivio Medical Center annual scholarships, along with navigating the partnerships between ILI and higher education institutions who are a part of the ILI Promise full tuition scholarship collaboration.

Ligia Zosel is a bilingual education and program management leader with extensive experience in grant administration, youth engagement, and college access programming. She currently serves as Director of College Access & Tobacco Programs at the Indiana Latino Institute, where she oversees multi-million-dollar grant portfolios, leads a team of educators, and develops statewide initiatives that support student success and Tobacco education.

She graduated as a Preschool Teacher in Technology in Guatemala and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Universidad Rafael Landívar in Guatemala, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in the United States. Her academic background, combined with her bilingual skills, supports her strong expertise in education, communication, and organizational leadership.

Has led innovative college readiness, leadership development, and tobacco prevention initiatives across Indiana schools and communities. She brings strong expertise in program design, data management, Salesforce administration, grant writing, and bilingual outreach strategies that strengthen compliance and expand program impact.

Previously, she worked in early childhood education leadership in Seattle, Washington, and has extensive experience as an educator, tutor, and community advocate. She is passionate about expanding equitable access to education and empowering youth through culturally responsive programming.

Dolly as our new Director of Communications and Leadership. She brings over a decade of experience in communications, public relations, and strategic leadership across both public and private sectors.

Dolly holds a Bachelor’s in Commercial Advertising, a Master of Arts in Public Relations, and an MBA in Global Strategic Leadership. Her career includes impactful roles at Elevance Health, where she led supplier diversity across a $1.2B global supply chain, and the Indy Chamber, where she supported over 5,000 Hispanic entrepreneurs and helped distribute $4M in pandemic relief loans. She also served as Director of the Indiana Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs, advising state leaders on policy.

A proud alumna of the ILI Latino Leadership Circle, Dolly is a passionate advocate, mentor, and entrepreneur who celebrates Latin and Hoosier culture. 

Brenda Owens is a new addition to ILI as our Bookkeeper.  She received her MBA in Accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University.  She has worked 10+ years in various accounting positions in Corporate, Manufacturing with 4 years in Nonprofit.  Payroll & Bookkeeping Certificate and is QuickBooks Online Certified. She is also a U.S. Air Force Veteran.  She has excellent customer service skills, is a self-starter, team player, detail-oriented, efficient and a great trainer.  She enjoys assisting with business functions outside of the scope of accounting and has worked alongside co-workers at volunteer functions.  Brenda Owens is dedicated to addressing food insecurity in the Americas and abroad.

Brenda Gutierrez is the Educational Specialist for the South and Central Region at ILI. She graduated from Marian University with a degree in Elementary Education and Special Education, laying the foundation for a meaningful career in education. For many years, Brenda poured her heart into teaching, both as a special education teacher and a 6th grade teacher. These experiences didn’t just shape her career; they ignited a profound passion within her to serve and uplift the Latino community. In her current role at ILI, Brenda leverages her extensive classroom experience and deep understanding of diverse educational needs to support and enhance educational initiatives throughout the South and Central Region. Her dedication to empowering students and educators alike aligns perfectly with ILI’s mission of strengthening communities through education

Estrella Mejia graduated from Marian University with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Minor in Spanish. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, she is committed to serving and supporting the Latino community across the state. As an Education Specialist Marion County, Estrella is dedicated to guiding Latino students toward higher education and assisting them in navigating the various opportunities available to them. Her previous experience includes working with programs where she provided support to the immigrant community with naturalization and legal services, as well as practicing youth counseling.

Regina Funk is the new College Program Lead for the Indiana Latino Institute. She brings to the role a unique combination of education and training experience that spans both corporate and non-profit organizations.  She also spent more than twelve years at IU Bloomington as an Associate Director of Admissions, Adjunct Faculty, and Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the Kelley School of Business.  Regina holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

A lifetime member of Prospanica (formerly the National Society of Hispanic MBAs), Regina is a founder and past board member of the professional chapter in Indianapolis and she is also one of the founders of Project Stepping Stone, the intensive college prep program that is now part of Escala Foundation. Across her career, Regina has enjoyed helping students, young adults, and professionals navigate learning environments and career paths. She looks forward to working with the ILI team, our Pathways to Careers (P2C) students, as well as our university, corporate, and foundation partners.

Stephanie Cirilo Ramirez holds a Master of Public Affairs in Public Management from the Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs in Policy Studies and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management. She began her academic journey studying International Relations with a concentration in Human Rights in Prague, Czech Republic.

Stephanie brings experience in policy, advocacy, and youth development, and has worked closely with youth in educational and community-based settings, including supporting students with diverse learning needs. In her role as Youth Empowerment Coordinator, she leads initiatives that promote leadership development, prevention education, and student engagement. She is committed to uplifting her community by empowering and inspiring youth while advocating for equitable access to opportunities and championing child rights.