OUR TEAM

Click photos below to read full biographies

Honorary Chairwomen

Our Co-Honorary Chairwomen are brilliant Dominican educators dedicated to supporting the organization and whose public achievements are an inspiration to the Mariposa community.

Julia Alvarez, M.A., Honorary Chairwoman
World Renowned Author, National Medal of Arts Recipient

Dr. Shirley M. Collado, Honorary Chairwoman
President + CEO of College Track, President Emerita of Ithaca College

Board of Directors

Our Board is dedicated to supporting Mariposa’s mission and vision and helps monitor and maintain the fiduciary health of the organization.

Tesha McCord Poe, J.D., M.B.A, Board President
Founder of Joy-Raising

Jay Dunn with his daughter and fellow Mariposa supporter, Tori. — *Jay Dunn with daughter and fellow Mariposa supporter, Tori*

Raymond Jay Dunn, M.A., Board Treasurer
Dunn Family Charitable Foundation

Teri Epting, M.L.S., Board Secretary
Retired Educator

Lee Ann Evans, M.A.
Senior Vice President, Capital Markets

Bernadette Rodriguez, M.B.A.
Director of Strategy and Product Innovation, Kaiser Permanente

Patricia Thorndike Suriel
Founder & Executive Director, Mariposa DR Foundation

Advisory Board

We are lucky to have so many great advisors who offer their expertise and who cheer us on. Our Advisory Board is a special group that dedicates their time to offering us advice and support.

Deborah Harmon Bouknight
Educator

Kevin Clunis, J.D.
Senior Vice President, Legal at Ross Stores, Inc.

Radmilla Cody
Miss Navajo Nation ’97-‘98, Grammy-Nominated Artist

Dr. Eva Cruz
Nonprofit founder; Consultant

Jenna Dailey, M.B.A.
Software Engineering Manager, Liberty Mutual Insurance

Todd Dailey, M.B.A.
President & Chief Operating Officer, Insurance Management Group

Dr. Bill Eichner
Founder, Alta Gracia

Holly Gordon
Campaign Founder and Executive Producer, Girl Rising

Judy Greenberg, M.Ed, M.A.
Licensed Psychologist

Sara Lulo, J.D., LL.M., M.A.
Executive Director, International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP)

Nell Newman
Environmentalist, Founder of Newman's Own Organics, and President of the Nell Newman Foundation

Yaneris Rosa, J.D.
Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)

Jadihel Taveras, M.A.
Head of School, Esperanza Academy

Dr. Elizabeth Thorndike
Environmentalist

Mariposa Staff

Our staff are made up of dedicated educators and professionals with decades of experience and our very own “Mariposa Volandos” i.e. graduates.

Patricia Thorndike Suriel
Founder & Executive Director

Jessica Lawson
Co-Founder & Consultant

Dr. Sara Bruins
Education Specialist Consultant

Tatianna Suriel
Organizational Development Specialist

Antarah Chopra
Executive & Programs Assistant

Angela Mejia Diaz
Bookkeeper and Accounting Assistant

Lisa Crow
Volunteer & High School Administrator

Fernanda Garcia
Programs Coordinator

Mariela Mesen
Psychologist & Health and Wellness Teacher

Erin Backhaus
Elementary and Middle School Teacher

Edisleba Garcia ‘15
Elementary and Middle School Teacher

Fabiola Veraz Joazar ‘22
Swimming Instructor

Andrea Suriel ‘22
Programs Assistant

Yenidel Vargas ‘22
Programs Assistant

Rosa Emilia Reyes ‘21
Programs Assistant

Yany (Gladys) Almonte
Kitchen Manager, Mariposa Center

Josefina Bueno
Kitchen Personnel, Mariposa Center

Eva Torres
Grounds Maintenance

Alvaro Jimenez
Director of Transportation

Miguel Soriano
Buildings & Grounds Maintenance

Tanya Badia
Consultant (Mountain School)

Melisa Mora
Teacher (Mountain School)

Cabarete Coffee Company Staff

The smiling faces behind your espressos, smoothies, fresh juices, sandwiches, salads, and more!

Erika Ventura ‘20
Manager, Barista & Server

Fifi Richard
Head Cook

Fatima Alvarez
Barista & Server

Yamaly Pascual
Cook

Maria Angelica Bonilla ‘22
Kitchen Steward

Freddy Suriel
Tour Guide & Head of Food Procurement

Princeton in Latin America (PiLA) Fellows 2025-2026

Mariposa is thrilled to work with 8 PiLA fellows from September 2025 - July 2026! This group of young women bring a variety of knowledge to Mariposa programs–from health and creative writing to paddle boarding and biology, they can do it all!