Team

Board

Rosario Dawson

Voto Latino Foundation Co-Founder and Board Member

Rosario Dawson is an actress and co-founder of Voto Latino. She currently serves as Chair of Voto Latino’s Board of Directors.

Dawson made her film debut in the movie, Kids, and has since appeared in Men In Black II, The 25th Hour, Sin City, Rent, Seven Pounds, Unstoppable, Trance, Gimme Shelter, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Chavez, and Top Five.

Rosario Dawson is not only an award-winning actress with a 20-year career, but an all around creative, out-of-the-box innovative powerhouse whose work ranges from film production to social activism to fashion, design and technology. Along with her work at Voto Latino, Dawson serves on the board of the Lower Eastside Girls Club in Manhattan, V-Day, and Operation USA.

Most notably, Dawson was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her valuable contributions to the community and encouragement in getting others involved. Dawson’s journey has also taken her to Africa where she is a creative director and designer at Studio One Eighty Nine, an online platform she co-founded to curate and showcase beautiful work celebrating craftsmanship, heritage, and design.

Ingrid Duran

Voto Latino and Voto Latino Foundation Board Member

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Ingrid M. Duran is CEO & Founder of D&P Creative Strategies, a company that she and her wife, Catherine, founded in 2004 to increase the role of corporate, legislative and philanthropic efforts in addressing multi cultural issues. D&P specializes in public affairs and government relations and
represents Fortune 200 companies as well as non-profits and trade associations.

Prior to starting D&P, Ingrid was President & CEO of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a leadership development institute founded by Hispanic Members of Congress in 1978. CHCI’s mission is to develop the next generation of Latinx leaders and to build a diverse and inclusive workforce across industries. She grew the organization over six years from a $700K budget to a $7 million dollar budget and launched both their scholarship program and their renown annual conference. Preceding her leadership of CHCI, Ingrid was recruited to run the Washington, DC office of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) representing Latinx community interests to Congress and the Clinton Administration.

Ingrid’s public service began at an early age when she served as a Corporal in the US Marine Corps. She continued her public service on Capitol Hill for six years where she worked under the Clerk of the US House of Representatives and on the House Banking Committee under the leadership of then Chairman Henry B. Gonzalez. Ingrid also served as a Legislative Assistant for former Representative Gene Green.

Her efforts as a strong steadfast leader and advocate for the LGBTQ+ and Latinx communities have garnered her national accolades and numerous honors, including the Premio Dignidad Award from LLEGO; the Nation’s 100 most influential and powerful Hispanics for HISPANC and PODER magazines; and a Latina of Excellence by HISPANIC magazine. Along with her wife Catherine, Ingrid was recognized by the Hispanic Women’s Corporation and The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force with their 2012 Leadership Awards; Latino Magazine’s 2013 Power Players; Working Mother Magazine’s Legacy Awards; and Hispanic VIP’s Premio a la Excelencia for their work in the Hispanic community. In 2014 Latino Magazine recognized her in the Top 10 leaders in the Latinx community and People en Español named her one of 25 Most Powerful Latinas in the U.S. Ingrid was named one of The Hill’s 2018 top lobbyists in Washington, DC.

Together, Ingrid and her wife Catherine founded PODER PAC, a political action committee by Latinas for Latinas. PODER PAC is a national effort to increase the number of Latinas elected to Congress.

Through their production company, Freemind Beauty, they have also produced six films The Latino List I & II, The Out List and The Trans List for HBO and The Boomer List and The Women’s List for PBS American Masters.

Ingrid earned a bachelor’s degree from Park College and is a graduate of Harvard’s JFK School of Government Executive Program; Harvard’s Business School Corporate Governance Program; and the Center for Creative Leadership. She is a 2002 National Hispana Leadership Institute Fellow.

Brandon Hernandez

Voto Latino and Voto Latino Foundation Board Chair

Brandon Hernandez is an award-winning communications leader, executive advisor, and political consultant with strong expertise in how to successfully navigate California’s political, legislative, and business landscape. Leveraging in-depth knowledge of both the public and private sectors, Mr. Hernandez advises corporations, non-profits, and political campaigns to succeed at the state and local levels. He has been named a “Top 20 Under 40” Environmental Leader by San Francisco 7×7, received multiple national awards for a groundbreaking Spanish language campaign, and was recognized with “June 24 – as Brandon Hernandez Day” by former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

As the Founder and Principal of Reforma Strategies, Brandon Hernandez directs world-class client solutions in the areas of Political Strategy, Public Affairs, Media Relations, Government Relations, Hispanic Communications, Reputation Management, Marketing & Ad Campaigns, Crisis Management, Issue Advocacy, and Initiative Leadership. Regardless of the industry or challenge, he has helped organizations move past complicated events, protect reputations, and prepare for media and legislative appearances. With extensive insights, connections, and strategic leadership experience, Brandon helps companies establish or expand business operations in California, representing the fifth-largest economy in the world.

For 13 years, Brandon served PG&E to meet the needs of its customers and the State of California, most recently working as the Senior Director for External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives. In this role, he led a statewide team and oversaw legislative policy, collaborated with stakeholders and government agencies, and organized public affairs activities across the state and nation. He spearheaded PG&E’s strategic rollout of more than $6B in capital investments across Northern California, established the first Zero Net Energy substation in the United States, and led a partnership to make San Francisco the greenest city in America. Previously, Brandon directed Public Affairs for the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco in California and Washington DC, worked as a policy advisor for the California State Assembly Speaker and was lead for various corporate and political clients at a leading media and political consulting firm.

Mr. Hernandez holds a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley. Beyond his professional endeavors, he serves as a Board Director for civic causes and non-profit organizations, including Voto Latino and the LGBTQ Victory Institute. Brandon enjoys travel immensely, has a passion for architecture and urban planning, and loves to explore cities around the world.

María Teresa Kumar

Voto Latino and Voto Latino Foundation President & Board Member

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María Teresa Kumar is the co-founder and President of Voto Latino Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization, and its sister 501(c)(4 ) advocacy organization, Voto Latino. Voto Latino Foundation and Voto Latino are the largest Latino voter registration and Latino youth advocacy organizations in the country, respectively. Together, Voto Latino Foundation and Voto Latino, jointly known as Voto Latino, have registered over 1.4 million Americans in key battleground states since 2004, 79% of whom went on to vote.

Latinos are the fastest-growing demographic in the United States, and Voto Latino’s work has directly led to a substantial expansion of the Latino electorate in key states like Arizona and Nevada. Voto Latino has pioneered the use of technology, social media, and influencers to effectively register voters and counter disinformation at unprecedented scale. Voto Latino reaches over 6 million Americans each month and has spent more than $100 million to ensure all Americans can participate in our democracy.

For this work, Fast Company named María Teresa one of the 100 Most Creative Minds, and the Analyst Institute recognized Voto Latino with an Expy Award for expanding the field of voter registration.

A sought-after political leader and strategist, María Teresa advised President Barack Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, and she currently serves on the National Task Force on Election Crises and the Brookings Institution’s Working Group on Universal Voting. She is chair of the Latino Anti-Disinformation Lab.

María Teresa is also an Emmy-nominated analyst for MSNBC and serves on the boards of Steve Madden, Emily’s List, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Additionally, she is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. She has been named among Bloomberg’s 100 Influential Latinos, Washingtonian Magazine’s 100 Top Political Influencers, and Elle’s 10 influential women in Washington. The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, Hispanic Executive Magazine, Latino Leaders Magazine, and Hispanic Business have all honored María Teresa.

Eve Maldonado O’Toole

Voto Latino and Voto Latino Foundation Board Member

Eve Maldonado O’Toole is leader of Holland & Knight’s Local Government Group and Principal of Evolve Strategies LLC. She brings more than 20 years of federal lobbying experience, with substantial background in state and local government/public sector advocacy, regulatory, appropriations and policy development, and in establishing and executing local public-private partnerships, successful grassroots campaigns and coalitions, and positioning state and local officials and municipalities nationally.

With close working ties to Congress and the executive branch, Ms. O’Toole has a strong record of advancing a wide range of public interests. These include transportation and infrastructure, energy, environment, water, natural
resources, community and economic development, public safety, housing and homelessness, health and human services, workforce, education, civil rights, telecommunications and technology, homeland security, emergency
preparedness and recovery, defense and base reuse, and public finance.

Among other key local government/public agency and public-private partnerships, Ms. O’Toole currently represents cities from San Francisco to Philadelphia, Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, San Mateo County’s transportation agencies and the 480-member League of California Cities, where she previously served as head of its Washington, D.C., office. She also leads and manages the advocacy for several national coalitions, including Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment, Mayors Against LGBTQ Discrimination and the Water Agency Leaders Alliance.

Ms. O’Toole previously served as senior vice president and director of the Intergovernmental Group practice of MARC Associates, a federal relations consulting firm. She also worked as a government affairs representative with another large law firm, serving as federal representative for Los Angeles County. She currently serves on the board of the California State Society and has served on the board of The Representation Project and the Women’s Campaign Fund. She recently co-founded GrupoMas, a social network of LatinX professionals interested in California’s economic, political, arts, entertainment and cultural affairs. She also was vice president for development and treasurer for MANA, a national Latina organization.

Wilmer Valderrama

Voto Latino Foundation Board Member

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Wilmer Valderrama currently stars in the number one drama NCIS on CBS. He also can be seen in Netflix’s comedy THE RANCH. Valderrama also recently starred in FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino’s first original television series, as ‘Carlos Madrigal,’ the series’ main villain. In addition, he will voice ‘Prince Charming’ in the John H. Williams animated film CHARMING, opposite Ashley Tisdale, Avril Lavigne and Demi Lovato.

Valderrama is most recognized for his role as ‘Fez’ on FOX’s Emmy-nominated series THAT 70’S SHOW.

As for his philanthropic efforts, Valderrama has directed several PSA’s for multiple organizations such as Voto Latino, where he also stands as co-chair. Valderrama is the spokesperson for CHCI, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and is the founder of their Ready 2 Lead program, which educates and empowers the Latino youth. He also has worked with President Obama’s Organizing for Action campaign on efforts involving immigration reform and education.

Valderrama currently resides in Los Angeles.

Alfredo Vidal

Voto Latino Foundation Board Secretary

Alfredo M. Vidal is the President of the boutique lobbying firm, The Vidal Group, LLC. Under Alfredo’s leadership, The Vidal Group has represented a diverse client base, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits.

Before starting The Vidal Group, LLC, Alfredo worked in New York as an Ombudsman for the Secretary of State, the Director of Finance for the Division of Human Rights, the Assistant Director of Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs for Governor Cuomo and as the Senior Internal Auditor for the Department of Transportation. In the private sector he worked as an Associate for Weinraub and Ostroff, LLC, as a Senior Associate with Ostroff Associates, LLC, and as a partner at Brown, Vidal and Weinraub, LLC.

In 2010, the New York State Assembly Puerto Rican and Hispanic task force presented him with their Community Service Award, recognizing his outstanding contribution and advocacy for the social and economic advancement of the people of the Puerto Rican and Hispanic Community of New York. He was also featured in The Capitol’s Top 40 Under 40 Rising Stars.

Alfredo holds a Bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in International Relations and Spanish Language, Literature and Culture and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Staff

María Teresa Kumar

President & CEO

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For this work, Fast Company named María Teresa one of the 100 Most Creative Minds, and the Analyst Institute recognized Voto Latino with an Expy Award for expanding the field of voter registration.

Ameer Patel

Managing Director

Ameer serves as Voto Latino’s Managing Director, where he oversees the organization’s operations and programs. Prior to his role as Managing Director, Ameer led Voto Latino’s Programs department, where he focused much of his time on designing programming and experiments aimed at increasing Latino registration and turnout rates. In 2020, he led Voto Latino’s successful and award-winning campaign to register over 600k new voters.

Before joining Voto Latino, Ameer headed data and analytics efforts for various environmental groups building coalition-wide data programs and infrastructure. Before that he spent time working at Catalist, GMMB, and is a proud alumni of Senator Kay Hagan’s 2014 campaign and President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.

When not in the office, Ameer enjoys cycling, skiing, and going on hikes with his dog Oso.

Andre De Santos

VL On-Campus Intern

Andre De Santos is a VL On-Campus Intern. Born and raised in El Paso, TX, he is a Senior at Howard University majoring in political science with a minor in computer science. Passionate about voting and Latino politics, he hopes to advocate for young Latinos to use their political power.

After finishing his undergraduate studies, he hopes to work in political campaigns and the political data field. He hopes to merge his love for his Latino community with his passion for politics by helping elect more Latinos to public office. In his free time he enjoys cooking, playing video games, DJing, and hanging out with his friends.

Anjali Patel

Operations Fellow

Anjali is a summer fellow in the Operations division. As a New Jersey native, she completed her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in Public Health and Cell Biology & Neuroscience. In August 2024, she will attend medical school at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. She hopes to be a doctor committed to addressing health disparities and bias in medicine. Outside of work, Anjali loves to read, play board games, sew, and spend time with her family and friends.

Brianna Puga

Social Media and Communications Fellow

Brianna Puga (she/her/ella) serves as the Social Media and Communications Fellow at Voto Latino. From Salt Lake City, UT, Brianna began her journey with Voto Latino at the age of 16, registering people to vote and encouraging them to exercise their privilege to participate in the electoral system. Raised by a single immigrant mother who was also learning to adapt to the U.S., including its policies and electoral system, Brianna had to navigate the electoral process on her own. She believes in the importance of voting as a means to construct social and political change within the Latinx community.

Camille Rivera

Senior Partnerships Advisor

Camille Rivera comes to Voto Latino with long and deep ties to the labor and issue campaigns movement, both in New York City and across the country. An Afro Latina, born and raised in the Bronx, Camille’s values intertwine with how she drives campaigns. Camille received her bachelor’s degree at the City of University of New York (CUNY) and received her Masters’s in Public Policy at the New York University Wagner School of Public Policy. Rivera has offered her political commentary on CNN, NY1, BBC, and WNYC’s The Takeaway. She has written op-eds for publications including for Colorlines, and has been profiled by publications including mitú, the New York Daily News, Huffington Post, and other media outlets across the country. She is a frequent commentator on NY1.

Camille’s work has included serving as a Senior Advisor on the New York operation for Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 Presidential campaign, and working with SEIU to build out the National Latino Civic Engagement Table, overseeing its Latino independent expenditure program in key battleground states, including Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Florida. At SEIU, she continued as a senior advisor from 2016 to 2024. Camille also worked as a consultant for Charles Booker for the United States Senate in Kentucky. She also serves as an advisor for the National Working Families Party and helped to lead key district attorney races in Michigan and Minnesota and LA and has served as a senior advisor on various political campaigns.

Rivera is the former national & legislative political director at the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, RWDSU, where she was responsible for overseeing the union’s political, legislative, and electoral work on behalf of its members and leadership. During her tenure, she led campaigns to ensure retail owners provided fair and stable work hours to their employees, Camille worked with other labor unions to pass a precedent-setting increase for airport catering workers and worked with the state legislature to pass a historic piece of legislation that would eliminate tipped wages for car wash workers and increase their pay to $15 an hour. When New York announced a deal that would have given Amazon billions in tax subsidies without any commitment to allow workers the right to organize, Rivera helped RWDSU lead the fight to ensure that workers and the community were allowed to have a voice in the process.

Rivera brings decades of experience in government, policy, and politics. Before her work at RWDSU, Rivera spent the 2016 presidential campaign as national deputy political director for the Service Employees International Union, working to get out the vote in swing states like Nevada, Colorado, and Florida and running its massive $4 million Latino GOTV effort.

She also dealt directly with one of the most pressing policy issues in the city while serving as a top staffer in the New York City Department of Homeless Services. Camille was also the Director for United NY, helping to build up the city’s low-wage worker rights campaign, and was one of the coordinators of the first fast-food worker strikes in NYC, as well as the Fight for 15. Camille’s work on low-wage workers is documented in the book New Labor in New York.

Cynthia Pandurini

Director of Special Projects

Cynthia serves as the Director of Special Projects for Voto Latino. Her previous experience includes project and operations management for various other Latino-serving non-profit organizations in Washington, DC with a focus on policy advocacy for education, workforce and professional development and financial literacy. Born and raised in Southern California, she became a DC transplant in 2018. She is currently a graduate student at George Washington University.

Danny Mota

Senior Graphic Designer

Danny Mota is a lead graphic designer for Voto Latino. He creates many of the social media visuals, signage, physical merchandise along with other aspects of design. He has over 2 decades of design experience. Prior to joining the team, Danny worked as an art director for brands such as UMG, WWE, Marvel Comics and Tommy Hilfiger, where he has oversaw the design process from conceptual phase to completion and final approval. Some of his work was included in some of the highest grossing tours of all time, including the final tours for Elton John & Kiss and among international retail merchandise for other musical acts such as The Rolling Stones. With a unique blend of artistic and technical skill, his ability to translate cultural influences and market demands into on-trend design is one of his strengths. When he’s not working, he enjoys reading and illustrating.

He is an NYU alumni and NYC native.

Gisela Alvizures

VL On-Campus Intern

Gisela is a VL On-Campus intern. She attends Florida State University, pursuing a major in political science and sociology, with minors in urban and regional planning along with international relations. She is passionate about climate justice and civic engagement. As a campus organizer for the environmental nonprofit the CLEO Institute, she has experience in climate organizing within the Tallahassee community.

After graduation, she plans to attend law school with a concentration in land use and environmental law, with hopes of addressing sustainable housing for underserved communities. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Gisela enjoys going to the beach, being outside, or being with friends and family!

Isabella Hodnett Ortiz

Digital Fellow

Isabella is a fellow in the Digital division. Born and raised in Severna Park, MD, Isabella is a sophomore at George Washington University majoring in Marketing with a concentration in International Business and a minor in Spanish. Passionate about advocating for voting rights, she hopes to continue amplifying Latino voices and stories through raising awareness on the issues that affect this community and educating people on how they can help the cause.

After finishing her undergraduate studies, she hopes to attend school and receive her Masters degree to continue learning about Business Marketing and the positive impact it can have when working for a company or organization. Fun facts about Isabella include her love for cooking, traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Isabella Karpuzyan

Partnerships & Government Affairs Fellow

My name is Isabella Karpuzyan and I am born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I am currently the Partnerships & Government Affairs Fellow. I attend New York University and I study Public Policy and Law with a focus on immigrant rights. After my undergrad, I really hope to go to law school and continue to be an advocate for inclusive immigrant policy in the state of California. If I’m not in the office I’m either getting dim sum with my friends, joking around with my older siblings, or going to the beach!

Jasmine Peña Ramirez

Paid Media Fellow

Jasmine Peña Ramirez currently serves as the Paid Media Fellow. Born and raised in Cambria, California, she is a senior at the University of Notre Dame majoring in political science and Latino studies, with a minor in public service. After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to attend law school and continue advocating for marginalized communities. When Jasmine is not in the office, she enjoys traveling, trying new cuisine, going to the beach, and reading.

Kaylie Martinez-Ochoa

Strategic Initiatives Assistant

Kaylie serves the Strategic Initiatives Assistant for Voto Latino. A graduate of William & Mary, her time as an undergraduate was spent as a Research Assistant for the Social Networks and Political Psychology lab, interning with a local law firm, and working for Undergraduate Admissions as an Interviewer.

Since being an Election Page in high school, handing out “I Voted!” stickers, she has been interested in election and voting policy. She is dedicated to ensuring accessible and equitable voting procedures in all 50 states. When she’s not in the office, she is an amateur film critic, memorizing choreography, or reading on the Metro.

Kunal Chhajed

Data Analyst

Kunal is a passionate and dedicated data analyst with a strong background in both business analytics and computer science engineering. Currently, he thrives as a Data Analyst at Voto Latino, leveraging over 3 years of valuable analytics experience to make a meaningful impact.

His journey in the world of data analysis began during his tenure as a software engineer at a Fortune 500 firm. It was there that he first delved into the realm of data analytics, instantly captivated by its potential to drive informed decision-making and bring about positive change. Recognizing his growing interest and fascination with data-driven insights, he transitioned into a role as a Senior Data Analyst at a dynamic startup. In this capacity, he played a pivotal role in driving strategic decisions and facilitating growth for both the startup and its clients.

However, he was determined to deepen his expertise and broaden his horizons in the field of analytics. Consequently, he decided to embark on an exciting academic journey and pursued a Master’s degree in Business Analytics from the prestigious University of Washington. He is incredibly proud to have graduated with honors and ranked among the top 10% of his cohort.

During his time at the university, he had the opportunity to learn a wide array of cutting-edge analytical techniques and methodologies. From predictive modeling to data visualization, he acquired a robust skill set that he is eager to apply to real-world challenges. His education has not only honed his technical proficiency but also instilled in him a profound passion for leveraging data to drive innovation and create positive societal impact.

With his unique blend of technical expertise, business acumen, and a relentless drive to make a difference, he is excited to take on new challenges and contribute meaningfully to any data-driven endeavor. Whether it’s uncovering valuable insights, solving complex problems, or driving strategic decision-making, he is always up for the task.

Lauren Juarez-Duran

Communications Fellow

Lauren is a fellow in the Communications department. She is from Albuquerque, New Mexico and lives in Chicago, where she moved to attend Loyola University. Lauren graduated in 2021 with an undergraduate degree in political science and in 2023 with a master’s degree in social work. During her social work studies, she studied social policy and advocacy, which lead to her interest in community organizing. Through both her degrees, Lauren studied how politics and policy affect the Latino community and is passionate about continuing this work with Voto Latino. In her free time, Lauren loves to find a cute coffee shop in the city and keep up with pop culture.

Lidya Mesgna

Director of Paid Media

Lidya serves as Director of Paid Media for Voto Latino, leading the strategic planning and implementation of Voto Latino’s paid programs, including voter registration and GOTV.

Before joining Voto Latino, Lidya specialized in voter mobilization, spearheading successful multi-channel paid campaigns for nonprofits, candidates, and advocacy organizations, including Voto Latino’s groundbreaking voter registration program in 2020 that registered over 600k new voters.

In her spare time, she enjoys pottery, baking for family and friends, and playing card games.

Louise Storm

Chief of Staff

Louise serves as Voto Latino’s first Chief of Staff, overseeing the office of the CEO and supporting strategy across departments. Most recently, Louise was a longtime Chief of Staff to the CEO at Case Impact Network, the Case Foundation, and related entities. There she led stakeholder management, as well as strategy and communications across a diverse cross-sector portfolio including inclusive entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and impact investing. Louise is a mentor for Sustainable Ocean Alliance advising Next Gen founders in communications and leadership to bring solutions to the climate crisis, and has advised early stage Chiefs of Staff for the past decade.

Louise hails from the UK and lives in Falls Church City, VA with her four children and husband. Louise earned a BA in History and French from James Madison University, and is currently working on a Masters degree in Design Management and Communications from Georgetown University.

Lydia Schwartz

Digital Manager

Lydia serves as Digital Manager for Voto Latino. In her role, Lydia oversees the execution of digital fundraising and engagement across various platforms like SMS, ads, email, and web.

Before joining our team, Lydia worked as a digital fundraising consultant for numerous progressive organizations in the lead up to the 2020 elections and in mail persuasion for the 2018 midterms. She is a proud AmeriCorps alumna, a graduate of the College of Wooster, and a DC native. When she’s not working, you can find her hyper-focusing on her latest obsession or just outside. She really likes being outside.

Nicholas Crookston

Partnerships & Government Affairs Coordinator

Nicholas serves as Partnerships & Government Affairs Coordinator for Voto Latino.

Prior to this, he was the communications intern for U.S. Senator Patty Murray and the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee, a government affairs intern at the United Farm Workers Foundation, a campaigns fellow with Voto Latino, a programs assistant at the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy, and a research assistant at the Klau Institute for Civil & Human Rights. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in May 2023, where he majored in political science, global affairs, and Latino studies, with a concentration in civil and human rights. There, he served as the president of the Latinx Student Alliance, co-founder of the ND Democracy Talks series and Hesburgh Democracy Fellows program, and founder and director of UndocuAlly ND. Nicholas currently serves as an advisory board member of the Students Learn, Students Vote Coalition.

Born and raised in Muncie, Indiana, Nicholas is the proud son of a Colombian immigrant and a large multiracial, multicultural village of family and friends that raised him. He is passionate about breaking down barriers, uplifting the powerful voices of his communities, and defending democracy like a champion today. And as an experienced activist and advocate, he has been part of the ongoing fights for immigrant justice and creating pathways to citizenship, climate justice for underserved communities, voting rights and civic engagement, and empowerment for Latinos and other underrepresented communities. In his free time, you can find him reading a good book, traveling and exploring new places, curating his vallenato and reggaetón playlists, and watching college football.

Norberto Briceño

Director of Social Media

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Norberto Briceño is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied theater and Latin American studies. In 2014, he joined BuzzFeed as a staff writer, where he wrote articles and quizzes about geek culture, true crime, nostalgia, and Latinidad. In 2016, he co-founded Pero Like, BuzzFeed’s flagship Latino channel, where he produced a plethora of Latino video and editorial content ranging from social issues and Latin American food analysis to comedic skits and relatable Latino-isms. During his time there, with the support of a very small but talented team, the Pero Like Facebook page garnered nearly two million likes, while the YouTube channel has surpassed one million subscribers. He’s excited to be part of the Voto Latino family as the Director of Social Media.

Shannon DeForest

Operations Assistant

Shannon is the Operations Assistant at Voto Latino. Before joining Voto Latino, she worked in campaigns under Defend the Future and Organizing Corps 2020. She is passionate about advocating for voting rights and reproductive justice. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her cat Toby, reading, and finding good coffee shops. She’s a graduate of Acadia University.

Valeri Hernandez Godinez

Strategic Initiatives Fellow

Valeri is a rising senior at Miami University- Ohio pursuing a combined BA/MA in English Literature with a minor in Social Justice Studies. After completing her degrees, she plans to attend law school and pursue a career as a voting rights litigation attorney. During her free time, Valeri enjoys reading, trying out new coffee shops, and running.

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