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Our Board of Directors plays a pivotal role in guiding and shaping the strategic direction of our organization. Composed of dedicated individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise, our board members are deeply committed to our mission and share a common vision for a better future.

Each board member brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table, representing various industries and professions. Their collective wisdom and guidance steer our organization towards impactful initiatives and ensure we remain focused on our core values.

Learn more about our esteemed Board of Directors and what inspires them to be a part of Los Niños Primero:

Olivia Rocamora

Board Chair

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Sergio Dorronsoro

 Board Vice Chair

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Bruce Morine

Treasurer

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Lynn Moore

 Secretary

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Christian Alvarado

 

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Marcus Balbed

 

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Rev. Barrett Abernathy

 

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Celia Soriano

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Samuel McClurg

 

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Dr. Michelle Robbins

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Thays Morgan

Lora Coughlin 

 

Shanti Gangadharan

 

If you are interested in learning more about our board members or exploring opportunities to join our board (by invitation only), we invite you to contact Maite Fuertes at maite.fuertes@losninosprimerousa.org for more information

Together, we can

continue to make a difference, inspire change, and create a brighter future for Latino families.

Olivia Rocamora 

An Atlanta native with Cuban heritage, Olivia Rocamora is dedicated to celebrating and supporting the city’s Latino community through the transformational bridge of education. She serves as the Upper School World Languages Department Chair at The Lovett School in Atlanta, GA. Since 2011, Olivia has been committed to weaving social justice, service, travel, and experiential learning into her teaching.

In addition to her work at The Lovett School, Olivia has been involved with LITA, a travel education and language immersion company, since 2015, where she writes curriculum, trains teachers, and leads student groups across Spain. She holds a B.A. in Spanish from Oglethorpe University and an M.A.T. in Secondary Education from Agnes Scott College, focusing on Hispanic language and culture and leveraging Atlanta as a living laboratory for educational exploration.

Olivia’s community involvement extends beyond the classroom. In 2021, she served on a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force for the city of Sandy Springs, where she advocated for the housing needs of minority populations. Her excellence in teaching has been recognized with accolades including the Georgia Independent School Association’s Upper School Teacher of the Year award in 2018 and the STAR Teacher award in 2020.

What Inspires Your Commitment to Los Niños Primero? 

As Bishop Desmond Tutu notes, “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” I serve on the LNP Board of Directors because it is an organization that simultaneously pulls Atlanta’s Latino community out of the river and addresses the root issues that cause their challenges. We are building a thriving Latino community that is leaving generational poverty behind and establishing itself to be upstanding citizens in our city, and we could not be more proud.

Sergio Dorronsoro

Sergio Dorronsoro is an accomplished Human Resources Leader with over 15 years of experience in both the profit and nonprofit sectors, focusing on executing strategic initiatives to align with organizational priorities. His expertise spans Leadership Development, Diversity and Inclusion, and Talent Management. Currently, Sergio serves as a key member of the HR team at Travelport, a global travel technology company based in Atlanta.

Before joining Travelport, Sergio spent six years at CARE USA, a renowned global humanitarian organization, where he contributed to advancing the organization’s mission through strategic human resources initiatives. Sergio holds a B.S. in Political Science from Troy University. 

Raised in Atlanta as a first-generation American to Colombian parents, Sergio has a deep connection to the city and has witnessed the tremendous growth of Georgia’s Latino community over the past 30 years. He is deeply passionate about supporting the Latin community, with a particular focus on empowering youth to ensure their future success. Sergio is married to Alejandra, and they have a son, Lucas.

What Inspires Your Commitment to Los Niños Primero? 

A good education is the best gift and the best tool that we can provide to our children and youth, for them to be able to reach their goals and achieve stable, independent, and enriching futures.

Joining this great organization has given the opportunity to provide resources for our youth that ultimately will impact their personal growth, allowing them to be the inspiration for many generations to come.

Bruce Morine

Bruce is a native of New Zealand with an extensive background in finance and education. He began his career by qualifying as a chartered accountant and earning his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Victoria University of Wellington. After moving to Canada, he furthered his education by obtaining an MBA with Dean’s Honor List standing from the University of Western Ontario, where he also qualified as a Canadian chartered accountant.

He then moved to the United States, where he served as Chief Financial Officer in the North American building products industry for 16 years, followed by a six-year tenure as CFO of a carpet manufacturing company. His passion for education eventually led him to Mount Vernon Presbyterian School, where he spent the last 15 years of his career as CFO. During his time there, Bruce played a pivotal role in the expansion of the school to a new 30-acre campus, which now accommodates the middle and upper school divisions.

Bruce is married to his wife, Dale, and together they have two daughters, Kimberley and Anna, as well as two grandchildren, Lindsey and Ryan.

What Inspires Your Commitment to Los Niños Primero? 

I have always considered education to be an important factor, and so to be assisting the Hispanic students and their families in this regard through such a dynamic organization as Los Ninos Primero is truly humbling and rewarding.

Lynn Moore

Lynn is a dedicated elementary educator with fifteen years of experience, working across all age groups from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, and partnering with special education teachers in inclusion classrooms. She has spent the majority of her career with Fulton County Schools, where she currently serves as a Math Interventionist. In this role, Lynn focuses on helping elementary students develop number sense, conceptual understanding, and the metacognitive and mathematical strategies they need to succeed in the general education classroom. She takes pride in alleviating the fear and intimidation that often accompanies elementary mathematics for struggling students.

She is deeply engaged in the Sandy Springs community, where she has served on the boards of a church preschool and in her neighborhood associations. She has also been an Admissions Ambassador at her children’s school and has volunteered with organizations such as the Community Assistance Center, Fulton County Animal Shelter, Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, and Bosley’s Place.

Lynn holds a BSEd in Education from the University of Georgia and an MEd in Reading Education from Georgia State University. She and her husband, Phil, have three children, along with two dogs, a cat, and chickens. In her spare time, Lynn enjoys antiquing, exercising, gardening, traveling, crafting, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends.

What Inspires Your Commitment to Los Niños Primero?

As a daughter of a well-educated Puerto Rican chemist raised in South Georgia in the 70s and 80s, Lynn has a personal desire to ensure that the Latino community of Sandy Springs (and beyond) has the tools and education to overcome any obstacles they may face in becoming lifelong learners and exemplary members of the community.

Christian Alvarado

Christian Alvarado is a distinguished Puerto Rican graphic artist with over 15 years of professional experience in the industry. As the owner and lead designer of DADOdesign, a premier graphic design company based in Woodstock, GA, Christian has established himself as a trailblazer in the field of holographic art. His innovative designs and unwavering dedication to excellence have earned him recognition as one of the top holographic artists in the industry.

Throughout his career, Christian has had the privilege of collaborating with some of the world’s most iconic brands, including FIFA, UFC, WWE, Nike, Adidas, and many more. These partnerships have not only refined his skills but also broadened his perspective on the power of visual storytelling and brand identity.

Christian’s work has been celebrated with numerous awards and accolades, reflecting his commitment to pushing the boundaries of graphic design. He takes pride in his ability to create visually stunning and impactful art that resonates with diverse audiences.

What Inspires Your Commitment to Los Niños Primero? 

Joining the Board of Directors for LNP is a natural extension of my passion for art and community engagement. I am inspired by our mission to empower and uplift young Latino minds, and I am eager to contribute my expertise to further this cause, showing the youth that greatness can be achieved by staying true to oneself and embracing one’s unique cultural heritage.

Marcus Balbed 

Marcus Balbed is a Senior Consultant at Deloitte Global, specializing in the Strategy, Innovation, and Public Policy group (SIPP). With a strong background in strategy consulting across diverse industries, he excels in leveraging analytics to develop corporate strategy narratives for executives.

A recent graduate of Columbia Business School, Marcus was honored with the Columbia Fellows Scholarship, recognizing his exceptional leadership potential. His studies focused on Energy and Infrastructure, and he interned at a clean technology startup that is at the forefront of innovative battery technology aimed at decarbonizing the energy industry through grid-level storage.

At Deloitte, Marcus has been pivotal in launching new Climate and Sustainability services across the firm and has led market research projects at the intersection of mobility and manufacturing. His work includes projects for a Fortune 15 Auto Manufacturer and a Commercial Space Vehicle Manufacturer. Marcus has also conducted interviews with prominent figures, including a former astronaut and a sitting US Congressman.

Marcus began his volunteer work with Los Niños Primero in the 8th grade, observing the organization’s growth from 30 students per year to over 400. He now serves on the board as the Chair of the Development Committee, where he is dedicated to advancing fundraising initiatives for the next generation of LNP students and families.

What Inspires Your Commitment to Los Niños Primero? 

I believe LNP serves as the foundational step on a lifelong roadmap for Latino students and their families to achieve success in the United States.

Rev. Barrett Abernathy

A native Texan and son of an educator, Barrett grew up in small towns across the Lone Star State. He received degrees from Hardin-Simmons University (2007) and The University of Alabama (2009). During graduate school, he worked for First Presbyterian, Tuscaloosa, AL and discerned a call to ministry. He received his Master of Divinity in 2013 from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Following a first call at First Presbyterian, Livingston, AL, Barrett began his ministry at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church in August 2019. He is married to Braegan, a librarian at Georgia State University, and they have a daughter, Evelyn.

What Inspires Your Commitment to Los Niños Primero? 

I love the opportunity to collaborate with the Los Ninos Primero community. It is a wonderful way to live out the mission (Reaching Out… to Welcome. Worship. Share. Serve.) of the Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church community.

Celia Soriano

Celia is a Senior Associate Program Manager at Workday, where she leads and develops innovative programs with her Digital Customer Success team. At Workday, she is also actively involved in hosting events that support the Latinx community within the office and the broader Atlanta area.

A former Los Niños Primero (LNP) student, volunteer, and MBM recipient, Celia now serves on LNP’s Board of Directors. Her dedication to the organization is evident in her successful efforts to foster collaboration between Workday and LNP. She is also pursuing higher education at Georgia State University.

Celia’s journey reflects a full-circle moment, as she acknowledges that her passion for lifelong learning and achievement began with the support she received from LNP. At 22, she attributes her success to the foundation LNP provided, from learning English to supporting her college education. Her achievements are a testament to LNP’s mission and its impact on her life.

What inspires your commitment to Los Niños Primero?

Los Niños Primero has been a family and safe place to dream of wanting a better life. I believe that my academic and professional achievements started with Los Niños Primero’s love and courage to advocate for my education and wellbeing.

Sam McClurg

Samuel M. McClurg, a Michigan native, graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts (1964) and an MBA (1966). He served as a Lieutenant of Field Artillery in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969. After his military service, Mr. McClurg worked for American Appraisal Associates, where he managed the Southeastern Regional Office in Atlanta and later worked in Hong Kong and Tokyo before retiring as a Senior Vice President in 2004.

Samuel has a long history of volunteerism. As a Boy Scout, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and served on the Troop Committee at Fort Carson, Colorado. In Wisconsin, he served as an elder at Crossroads Presbyterian Church. After moving to Atlanta, he joined Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, where he served three terms as an elder on the Christian Education Council.

In 2011, Samuel McClurg joined the Board of Directors of Los Niños Primero, drafting a Standard Operating Procedure and later serving as Chairman. He also volunteered in various roles during LNP’s Summer Programs and Saturday School. He is currently on the Troop Committee for Troop 764 in Dunwoody. Married to Mary since 1965, they have two children and four grandchildren.

What Inspires Your Commitment to Los Niños Primero? 

I am involved with the Los Niños Primero program because our youngsters are children of God, but they need an organization to ensure that each of them can become all that they can be.

 

Dr. Michelle Robbins 

Dr. Michelle Robbins retired in 2023 as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the College of Education and Human Development at Georgia State University, focusing on Research Methods and Statistics. They currently serve as a part-time instructor at GSU, teaching qualitative research methods in education. Dr. Robbins is also an editor for the “Journal of Latinos and Education” and works as a courtroom interpreter. Additionally, they are an author of both fiction and non-fiction works.

Over the past five years, Dr. Robbins has been a keynote speaker at several prominent conferences, including the Critical Race Studies in Education Association Conference (2020) and the Educators Rising National Conference (2021). They presented “Entre Culturas: Sugerencias Para Padres Inmigrantes con Hijos Biculturales” at the 5ª Cumbre Educativa Para Padres y Estudiantes (2021) and “History as Counter Narrative: The Forgotten Cases of Chicano Resistance to U.S. Educational Subjugation” at the Southern History of Education Society Conference (2022). In 2024, they will present on “Developing Successful Consecutive Interpreting Skills Through Notetaking and Memorization Techniques” at the Mastering the Art of Medical Interpreting Conference.

Their recent publications include “An Interpreter’s Guide to Financial Freedom” and a book chapter on Mexican immigrant mothers in U.S. schools. They received the Teacher Excellence Award from GSU in 2023 and continue to advocate for Latino families in U.S. education.

What Inspires Your Commitment to Los Niños Primero?

Seeing the Latino children’s expressions of gratification and the parents’ pride in what they are accomplishing as a family is what inspires me to be a part of LNP.