Meet The Team

Viridiana was born in Michoacán, Mexico, and immigrated to the United States at 11. In 2004, she co-founded a grassroots organization to inform undocumented students of their rights and access to higher education. Viridiana holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish Literature and Communications from the University of Texas at Austin. She led Teach For America’s efforts to recruit and place DACA teachers in classrooms nationwide, recruiting over 240 educators teaching in 22 cities across 11 states. Recognized by LULAC and the Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for her leadership, she became a US citizen in 2016 and resides in San Antonio, TX.

Dr. Lorena Tule-Romain immigrated to the U.S. at nine from Michoacan, Mexico, and grew up undocumented in Dallas, Texas. Mrs. Tule-Romain started her journey as an undocumented student activist back in 2006. She attended the University of Texas at Austin and received her Master’s in Higher Education from SMU. Mrs. Tule-Romain’s passion for education equity and liberation comes from her personal experience. She has served as a City of Dallas Park and Recreation Board Member, North Texas Dream Team Board Member, President of the LULAC council, and was a 2021 Dallas Public Voices Fellow from OpEd Project. Currently, she is pursuing her Doctorate in Education Leadership at SMU.

Vindhyaa (she/her) is a multi-passionate young professional and leader. She comes from a proud and chaotic family of South Asian immigrants. As a first-generation college student in the US, she graduated with a Dual Bachelors Degree in Health Equity and Neuroscience at Rhodes College where she examined interdisciplinary fields of sociology, political science, psychology, and cultural neuroscience. In her senior thesis projects, she researched multilingualism in the brain and explored the question: what motivates womxn of color in their justice-oriented work. She has worked in diverse non-profit and tutoring/coaching experiences from student-run free clinics to international community-based organizations. In her spare time, she enjoys trying new sports, traveling, and journaling/writing. She has recently moved to New York City, and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.

Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Kim is a proud daughter of Mexican and formerly undocumented immigrants.  She is a first-generation college graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a focus on international development from the University of Texas at El Paso (2016) and a master’s degree in public administration focusing on Public Policy Management from Rutgers University- Camden, New Jersey (2021). Throughout her undergrad career, Kim focused on covering borderland immigration stories of undocumented/immigrant students and communities. From 2016-2018, Kim served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco where she created sustainable socioeconomic programs in rural areas for Moroccan youth and women that supported educational and employment attainment. Her passion for public service was deepened during her Peace Corps service and thus continued to work in the non-profit industry servicing immigrant communities through education and social services. Kim’s motivation and inspiration to continue the path of public service is her personal experiences growing up in a marginalized undocumented community by witnessing the educational and socioeconomic disparities that exist within immigrant communities.

Brenda was born in Cusco, Peru and immigrated to the United States at the age of 12. As an undocumented student throughout middle school she  had to advocate for herself and seek how to further her education. Brenda attend Baruch College and graduated with a BS in Public Affairs. While searching for a career she was passionate about, she joined Teach For America and found her calling as a teacher and was able to pursue teaching with DACA. She moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 2014 and has been a bilingual teacher since then. She recently obtained an M.Ed in Bilingual Education and hopes to continue to advocate for immigrant students, parents and families who need guidance and support. She wants her personal experience as an undocumented student and a DACA teacher to impact the lives and future of immigrant families in the community she serves.

Jessica (she/her) was born and raised for eight years in Veracruz, México before moving to the United States and settling down in Garland, Texas. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University- Commerce.  For the last 6 years, Jessica was a kindergarten and first grade in teacher. Now, in addition to working at ImmSchools, Jessica an instructional early literacy coach for primary grades PK-3rd in Garland Independent School District. She is happily married and has two beautiful children. In her free time, she enjoys reading, being outdoors, and making memories with her family. She is passionate about creating a strong literacy foundation in children and making a positive difference in the lives of those around her.

Astou Thiane, a 2015 Teach for America alumna and DACAmented educator, serves in New York City. Born in Dakar, Senegal, she immigrated to the U.S. at seven and was raised in Harlem, New York. Astou learned of her immigration status in high school and struggled to access higher education. In 2013, DACA status allowed her to work and finance her education independently. By 2015, she graduated cum laude with a double major in Political Science and Economics from Hunter College, CUNY. Joining Teach for America NYC, she taught 8th grade ELA in Harlem. In 2016, she joined the DACA Advisory Board, creating workshops for teachers on supporting undocumented students. In 2017, she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from the Relay Graduate School of Education. Currently, she is an ELA teacher at KIPP Academy Middle School in the Bronx, continuing to advocate for marginalized communities in education.

Christina grew up in South Bronx and brings over 20 years of experience in financial management to the nonprofit sector. She excels in building operational efficiencies, optimizing financial performance, and implementing robust financial controls. Growing up in a community with a large undocumented population, Christina witnessed firsthand the challenges and gaps in the school system's support for immigrants. She leverages financial analytics and insights to drive organizational success and support nonprofits in achieving their missions. Passionate about addressing social injustices, Christina is dedicated to working with organizations that make a direct impact on underserved communities.

Originally from Torreón, Coahuila, México, María migrated to the Unites States at the age of three and has been living in Texas for the past 28 years. She received a Bachelor Degree of Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2012; however, due to her immigration status, her dream of becoming an educator seemed close to impossible. Upon her 25th birthday on June 15, 2012, DACA was announced and provided María the opportunity to obtain her teaching credentials allowing her to secure a position as an educator. As a 2015 Teach for America alumni, María is in her 5th year as an educator in San Antonio, TX and recently received her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership at UTSA in December 2018. María is a strong advocate of early childhood education, dual-language programs, and providing equitable educational opportunities for all students regardless of their immigration status. She knows first-hand the importance of providing a safe space for our immigrant community. She is currently using her platform as an educator to ensure students embrace their cultural background thus continuing to instill and carry their familial values.

José was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. He migrated to Camden, New Jersey with his family as he was about to start high school. Adapting to a new country, language, and culture was challenging. Fortunately, he graduated high school at Woodrow Wilson High School. He was the first to graduate high school and attend college in his family. He graduated with a bachelor's in Health Promotion and Wellness Management from Rowan University in 2018. During college, from 2013 to 2015, he was a mentor in the Upward Bound ELLs program at Rowan University in Camden assisting English learners high school students with college readiness. After graduating college, José worked in community health for five years with the mission to decrease the maternal and infant mortality rate in Camden City. As a community health worker and health educator, José had the opportunity to serve immigrant families via health education, parenting classes, and connection to resources. As an immigrant José has seen first hand the impact of the lack of support for newcomers and the challenges students and families face in education and access to resources. He is a firm believer that supporting immigrant students and families is an essential part of a country’s future.