Lighting the Path
The Shine, Profe! Board of Directors is a collective of visionary leaders dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers and fostering thriving Latinx/e communities on college campuses.
By providing strategic leadership, mentorship, and advocacy, our Board ensures that our gente have the support needed to navigate and succeed in the complex landscape of U.S. higher education.
Meet the Board of Directors
Michelle M. Espino, Ph.D.
Founder & Executive Director
Dra. Michelle Espino is a first-generation college student and associate professor in higher education. She investigates the individual, organizational, and community factors that affect educational attainment and career advancement for racially and ethnically minoritized communities, particularly for Latinx/e students, faculty, and administrators. She is the founder and host of Latinx Intelligentsia, a podcast dedicated to supporting Latinx/e students, faculty, and administrators as they journey to and through higher education.
Pamela Hernandez, Ph.D.
Chair
Dra. Pamela Hernandez is the principal researcher and founder of Educo Research. The firm designs, conducts, analyzes, and reports research, and it works with organizations on strategic research plans that support their priorities and build human capacity. She is a first-generation immigrant and college graduate, and she is the first in her family to earn a doctorate. Pamela brings 15 years of experience in public and private higher education institutions and with agencies across the U.S. Her work spans educational research, assessment, and evaluation, along with student leadership development and training on multiculturalism, diversity, and social justice.
Nancy Bernardino, Ed.D.
Vice Chair
Dra. Nancy Bernardino is the Regional Superintendent of Region Five Schools in Dallas ISD, which includes 34 schools. In 2016, she founded Solar Preparatory School for Girls and served as its principal until 2020. She previously led John Quincy Adams Elementary to the state's highest designations and all six distinctions. Nancy was named Dallas ISD Principal of the Year in 2019 and earned the district's Master Principal designation twice. A 19-year resident of southeast Dallas, she served on the 2024 Dallas City Charter Commission and is a past president of the Association of Hispanic School Administrators.
Nieves Montemayor, MBA
Treasurer
Nieves Montemayor is a financial executive and the Chief Financial Officer for Money Positive, a financial wellness firm dedicated to making personal finance more accessible, inclusive, and human. Nieves specializes in building scalable financial operations from the ground up. From implementing financial systems and compliance frameworks to optimizing working capital and leading fundraising efforts, he brings institutional-grade expertise with a hands-on operator's mindset.
Communications Director
We are searching for a Board Member who can serve as our Communications Director. They would organize our monthly meetings, create blog posts and social media posts, and archive materials for the future.
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Join Us!