Tiffany Gurley-Alloway, PhD, MEdVice President of Programs Dr. Gurley-Alloway brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her position with Education is Freedom. After a successful career in marketing research management, Dr. Gurley-Alloway applied her business acumen toward changing lives through education, which is her calling! She has many years of experience in higher education, including university business services and undergraduate admission for a major university. Dr. Gurley-Alloway has a teaching certification for grades 4-8 math, and most recently was an intermediate school math teacher. Her background demonstrates her proficiency in program development, public policy, research, and education. She is a member of the American Society for Public Administration, the National College Access Network, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and the Society for the Study of Social Problems. Dr. Gurley-Alloway has a bachelor’s degree in business from Indiana University Bloomington, a master’s degree in higher education from The University of Toledo, and a Ph.D. in public and urban administration from The University of Texas at Arlington.

 

Daniel CruzManager of Student and Parent Services A graduate of Baylor University with a B.S. in biology, Daniel Cruz is a living example of what Education is Freedom hopes to accomplish. Daniel is a first-generation American and the first in his family to graduate from college. Throughout his educational career he has worked to help others succeed through volunteer activities with the Hispanic Student Association, Alpha Phi Omega, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and other organizations. Fluent in Spanish as well as English, he relates well to students in Education is Freedom.

 

Adam Powell, MSWManager of Student and Parent Services Adam Powell serves as the Manager of Student and Parent Services for Education is Freedom. Prior to his current position, Adam worked for three years as the higher education advisor at James Madison High School. His main responsibilities were to ensure that the seniors at James Madison were academically, socially, and financially prepared to make the transition to college. Before joining EIF in July of 2007, Adam gained an abundance of experience working with teenagers, including foster children and homeless adolescents. Additionally, Adam has spent a substantial amount of time working with urban youth in various locations in the South. His involvement in mentoring has equipped him to provide strong personal and academic support to students of all backgrounds. He is a graduate of Jackson State University with a degree in communications which was followed up by a master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Adam is currently working on his PhD in Urban Sociology with an emphasis on higher education.

 

Kevin Malonson, MEdMiddle School Manager Kevin Malonson brings with him 16 years of experience in education. He began his career as a student recruiter at the University of Texas at Austin where he went on to earn a B.A. in geography and a M.Ed. in education administration. He specializes in the college admissions process and has experience training high school counselors and students on admissions, SAT/ACT, federal financial aid, and scholarships. Kevin is strongly committed to affecting positive outcomes for students and has devoted his life to helping students realize their educational goals. He has worked on numerous projects for The Princeton Review with Dallas ISD and Fort Worth ISD and, most recently, served as the SES tutoring site director at Hulcy MS.

 

Dawn Wallace, MBAOperations Analyst Dawn Wallace received her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in African American studies and education from the University of California at Berkeley before earning an MBA. She has extensive experience in business and management, and has previously worked as a counselor with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at UC Berkeley, where she focused on college enrichment opportunities for high school students. Dawn has also done volunteer work as a mentor and tutor.

 

Bianca Allen, MPAHigher Education Advisor, David W. Carter High School Bianca Allen graduated from Texas Christian University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and recieved her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. Before joining Education is Freedom as a higher education advisor, Bianca worked as a financial aid advisor at TCU, where she has four years of experience.

 

Raymond CastillejaHigher Education Advisor, North Dallas High School  Raymond first joined Education is Freedom as an intern from the University of Texas at Arlington, where he is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work. As an Higher Education Advisor, Raymond works to strengthen the freshman class by motivating them to take an interest in their future careers. He also assists the Higher Education Advisor in empowering all EIF Dallas students at North Dallas High School. His own college journey began with his acquisition of an Associate of Science degree from Richland College. After this, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Dallas, which he later used while working in corporate finance, prior to entering the field of social services. Raymond discovered his passion for advocating for adolescents during his volunteer experiences at Youth First Texas, where he continues to volunteer.

 

Roletha Cathy, LMSWHigher Education Advisor, James Madison High School  Roletha graduated from Texas Christian University with a bachelor’s degree in social work and completed a master’s degree in social work at Texas A&M Commerce. Roletha is the first person in her family that has received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Hence, one of Roletha’s motives of staying in the field of education is to impact students’ lives. Roletha started at EIF as a social work graduate student intern and was then offered the position of an HEA. Prior to EIF, Roletha worked at Baylor Health Care Systems, Polytechnic High School, and South Hills High School in Fort Worth as an Associate for the AVID college preparatory program for socioeconomically disadvantaged and first- generation high school students. Thus, Roletha brings a plethora of social skills that are needed to target “high risk/high potential” student populations.

 

Kimberly D'Mello, MSHigher Education Advisor, W.H. Adamson High School  Kimberly D'Mello received her B.A. in education from the University of Missouri Kansas City and is certified to teach in public school in the state of Missouri. While studying for her bachelor's degree, she worked at the university's Institute for Human Development where she taught, as well as provided administrative support for an adult continuing education program for people with developmental disabilities. Later, she worked for an early childhood education program that was associated with the National Head Start Association as a Pre-kindergarten Evaluator for the Kansas City, Kansas Public School System. Kim also has a M.S. in management and administrative sciences from the University of Texas at Dallas. During graduate school, she interned in the Human Resources Department at Ericsson, Inc. Kim recently joined EIF as a Higher Education Advisor supporting the underclassmen at W.H.Adamson and hopes to inspire more students to graduate from high school and experience college.

 

Brian English, MBAHigher Education Advisor, Lincoln High School Brian began his career at Education is Freedom in January of 2009 as a Student Relations Coordinator. Prior to joining the EIF staff, Brian began work as an Employment Tax Specialist with 7-Eleven, Inc., where he was later promoted to Field Consultant. Brian received a BBA in marketing and a MBA from Texas A&M University-Commerce. At A&M Commerce, while working for TRIO Programs/Student Support Services, he mentored and advised incoming college freshman on educational, social, and personal and matters. His experience in consulting, mentoring, and overall business administration will immensely aid EIF as it continues to expand.

 

Alejandro FazHigher Education Advisor, H. Grady Spruce High School Alejandro Faz graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in Mexican American studies. He previously taught history, geography, and government at New Vision Christian Academy in Dallas, and he has also served as the education director for the Fort Worth Boys and Girls Club of America. In addition, Alejandro has been involved with the W.E. Greiner Middle School History Department for ten years, and he participates in Vida Social and the Salvation Army. Alejandro is bilingual in English and Spanish.

 

Hank Harris, MEdHigher Education Advisor, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School Henry ‘Hank’ Harris received a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Tennessee State University before receiving a master’s degree in education administration from Kansas State University. He has 20 years of experience in coaching, leading high school and college basketball teams. As a coach, Hank emphasized discipline, commitment, loyalty, integrity, and dedication. He also has experience in the fields of business, finance, and sales. Hank has a deep inner desire to help young students obtain the discipline they need in order to excel in today’s society.

 

Julieta RheaHigher Education Advisor, North Dallas High School  Julieta Rhea graduated from the school of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in May 2007. Prior to joining Education is Freedom, she worked in the prepaid telecommunications industry, where she held various leadership roles and played a significant part in providing consulting services to low-income and immigrant families, nationwide. Having grown up in a border town, Julieta has exposure to the hardships immigrants face during their transition to the United States. Julieta joined Education is Freedom in June 2007; she is currently the Higher Education Advisor at North Dallas High School. Her excellent communication skills in both English and Spanish allow her to effectively relate with the student population at North Dallas High School.

 

Guadalupe RoblesHigher Education Advisor, L.G. Pinkston High School Guadalupe Robles received a bachelor’s degree in Ethnic Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She has over five years of community outreach and social work experience and has a passion for helping young people. Before joining Education is Freedom, Lupe was a Family Support Worker, planning and executing weekly meetings with teen mothers. Lupe also has extensive volunteer experience in the Dallas area.

 

Berenice RodriguezHigher Education Advisor, Woodrow Wilson High School Berenice Rodriguez graduated from Wellesley College with a double major in psychology and Italian Studies. She also studied one semester at the Universita di Bologna in Bologna, Italy. She is fluent in three languages: English, Italian, and Spanish, and previously worked as an Italian tutor. Prior to joining Education is Freedom, Berenice worked as the Higher Education Programs Coordinator, managing federal and corporate funded scholarship and internship programs and helping high school and college students and families navigate the college process. Berenice is a graduate of Dallas ISD.

 

Mel RobinsonHigher Education Advisor, Kimball High School Mel Robinson received a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in sociology from Alabama A&M University. While in college, he was a member of both the Pre-Law Society and Student International Studies Association. Before joining Education is Freedom, Mel worked for two years as a financial aid officer at a college in Alabama. Through this position, he gained experience counseling students and parents on financial aid and higher education. Additionally, Mel previously worked as an IRA support specialist.

 

Wana SmithHigher Education Advisor, A. Maceo Smith High School Wana Smith received her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Texas at Arlington and previously worked as a food scientist. Her background in research and development has provided her with strong project management and problem-solving skills essential to working in a school-based setting and fostering positive relationships with students. Through her involvement with her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, she has served as a mentor for young ladies in the Arlington area. As a member of the mentor committee, she helped plan and conduct workshops on topics such as getting into college. In addition, she previously volunteered with the UTA-HOSTS program which provided support to college freshmen in their transition from high school.

 

John SperryHigher Education Advisor, Seagoville High School John Sperry received his bachelor’s degree in Biology from East Texas Baptist University, and has worked both as a high school teacher and a college admissions counselor, with more than four years of experience in the latter. Through his work, he has cultivated and maintained strong relationships with students, parents, school districts, and community college,s and has assisted over 1,000 students in preparing for and attending college.

 

Andrea TristanHigher Education Advisor, Sunset High School Andrea Tristan graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, completing all of her required coursework in three years. She has over three years of training and leadership experience, as the General Manager for La Hacienda Ranch in Carrollton. Andrea also has extensive volunteer experience in the areas of human services, public relations, and youth counseling.

 

Vallarie TrujilloHigher Education Advisor, Emmett Conrad High School Vallarie Trujillo received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern Methodist University, and also spent a semester studying in Taos, New Mexico. While at SMU, Vallarie tutored children with learning disabilities at Shelton Academy in Dallas. Prior to joining Education is Freedom, Vallarie worked as commercial a property manager, with three years of experience in management. She is bilingual in English and Spanish, and she enjoys charitable activities and civic involvement.  Vallarie is a graduate of Dallas ISD.

 

Miracle Wagner, MAHigher Education Advisor, South Oak Cliff High School Miracle Wagner graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, followed by a master’s degree in professional counseling from Argosy University. For the past two years, she has worked as a prevention counselor and qualified mental health professional for providing support services for at-risk youth. Through her program’s guidance, many students successfully exited the prevention program and later attend college.

 

Michael WarnerHigher Education Advisor, Sunset High School Michael Warner received his associate’s degree in fine arts from a Dallas County Community College and both his bachelor’s degree in biblical studies and master’s degree in philosophy from Criswell College. Prior to joining Education is Freedom, Michael served as the Director of the Life After School program at Lake Highlands Baptist Church where he provided individual tutoring and academic instruction to students from ages 5 through 14. He has also worked 5 years with the YMCA in Dallas as a Youth Sports Official.  Michael is a graduate of Dallas ISD.

 

Racquel InumerableResearch Analyst Racquel Inumerable joined the EIF team February 2009 as a Research Analyst. She obtained her bachelor's degree in communication research from the University of the Philippines, and her master's degree in applied sociology from the University of Texas at Dallas. Prior to joining EIF, Racquel worked for five years in the Marketing Research Group of GlaxoSmithKline, one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies globally. As a market researcher, she had the opportunity to implement a wide range of research studies that involve the use of various methods such as surveys, face-to-face interviews, and focus group discussions. More recently, she had her internship at the UT Dallas Provost Office as an Assistant Research Analyst. She was responsible for evaluating the assessment plans and reports of all the academic programs and support services groups within the university. Racquel's primary role at EIF will be to build and maintain the student database, perform data analysis on program planning and evaluation, and to implement internal process evaluation studies.

Development, Public Relations & Communications

 

 

Margaret Suarez, MEdDirector of Development Margaret  is originally from Southern California where she attended UC Santa Barbara for her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2002. She later received a Master of Education degree from Loyola Marymount University in 2006. She is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, an honors society through Loyola Marymount University. Prior to joining Education is Freedom, Margaret was a middle school math teacher, with five years of experience in California, and one year in LISD here in Texas. She is certified to teach multiple subjects in the state of California and Texas, and has her ESL certification. She also served at the YMCA in the summer camp programs as both a volunteer counselor and a site director for the past 9 years.

 

Marjorie Johnson Director of Marketing & Communications Marjorie Johnson graduated with honors from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in business administration in May of 2006. Prior to joining the Education is Freedom staff in May of 2008, Marjorie worked for CIGNA Healthcare doing marketing communications and sales support.  Marjorie manages all internal and external documents, promotional and marketing material, as well as the website.

 

Luisa del RosalCommunity Relations Manager Luisa del Rosal holds dual bachelor’s degrees from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in political science and sociology, with a minor in Italian. Prior to joining Education Is Freedom, she was a program manager for international business development for the Dallas Regional Chamber and held various positions with public relations firms. Through these positions, Luisa developed expertise in a host of areas including: marketing, client services, event management, and program administration. As the Community Relations Manager, she oversees the development and maintenance of community partnerships and is responsible for the administration of the E-mentoring program and the Mayor’s Intern Fellows program.

 

Marti HoweMajor Gifts Consultant Serving previously as Executive Vice President for Education is Freedom, Marti more than doubled annual corporate support for the national scholarship and local pilot programs raising over $11 million. With more than fourteen years experience in fundraising, sales, and marketing, Marti has demonstrated remarkable skills in matching corporate needs to philanthropic goals. As Director of Corporate Sponsorships for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra she generated $22 million in corporate sponsorships and was recognized by the American Symphony Orchestra League for developing the best corporate sponsorship program in the United States. Marti has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Stephens College.