Our Team
Robert Ponichtera, Ph.D. Executive Director & Founder
rponichtera@libertyspromise.org
Dr. Robert Ponichtera oversees project management and day-to-day operations of Liberty’s Promise, in addition to fostering community partnerships. Before founding Liberty’s Promise, he worked for several Washington, DC- based nonprofits, including Freedom House and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Dr. Ponichtera earned a Ph.D. in East European History from Yale University on 1995 and has taught at Yale, Quinnipiac College, Albertus Magnus College, and George Mason University.
Allyson Damante Development Associate
Allyson Damante supports Liberty's Promise through donor cultivation, community outreach, event management, and alumni relations. She graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a bachelor's in Arts for Social Change, a self-designed major that combined the disciplines of sociology, film, and art. She is passionate about using creative storytelling as a tool for education, empathy, and empowerment. Before joining Liberty's Promise, Allyson spent several years supporting education-focused organizations, gaining skills in development, communications, membership, and event planning.
Melissa Gelinas Director of Northern Virginia & Washington D.C. Programs
Melissa Guerrero Gelinas conducts the CE-BELL program Alexandria City High School in Alexandria, VA. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s in Linguistics, and later from Wake Forest University with a master’s in Spanish Interpreting and Translation. After graduating, she spent a year in Ecuador teaching English classes for middle and high school students, as well as for business professionals. She worked as an interpreter in the Forsyth County N.C. public schools, at Forsyth County Department of Social Services, and at World Relief.
Sean Mann Director of Montgomery and Prince George’s County Programs
Sean Mann conducts the Civics and Citizenship program at Wheaton High School. He graduated from Juniata College with a dual major in Physics and Spanish/Hispanic Cultures. During his time at Juniata he played rugby and ultimate frisbee and studied in Ecuador for a year, learning Spanish and conducting research on renewable energy. After graduating, he worked for Habitat for Humanity in Pittsburgh, then served as a Peace Corps Youth Development Volunteer for two years in the Dominican Republic.
Alex Phillips Operations Officer
Alex Phillips handles administrative duties in the main office of Liberty’s Promise in Alexandria, VA. Her work includes aiding in scheduling, finances, and general management to keep things running smoothly. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s in Psychology and Brain Sciences with a minor in Communications at George Washington University. Prior to working for Liberty’s Promise, Alex volunteered at Clermont Elementary School in Alexandria as an assistant teacher. She received consistent academic honors throughout both her high school and college career, earning both a Presidential Scholarship for her undergraduate studies and a spot on the Dean’s List in spring 2022.
Alex Cepeda Program Officer
Alex Cepeda conducts Civics and Citizenship Junior programs at Sudbrook Magnet Middle School and Lansdowne Middle School in Baltimore County, MD. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a major in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a minor in Entrepreneurship and Management. As a first-generation U.S citizen born from an immigrant Peruvian family, he has always had a goal of making sure his immigrant peers had the best opportunities to succeed. With Liberty’s Promise, he hopes to bring a new focus on healthcare to the program as he continues his journey to one day help the immigrant population as a medical physician.
Leslie Dimas Program Officer & Positive Youth Development Specialist
Leslie Dimas conducts the Civics and Citizenship and CE-BELL programs at Northwood High School in Montgomery County, MD. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. As a Mexican immigrant and first-generation college student, Leslie enjoys working with underserved and immigrant students because she realizes the importance of mentorship and helping her community reach its full potential.
Zabihullah Eshaqzai Program Officer
Zabi Eshaqzai conducts Civics and Citizenship programs at Alexandria City High School in Alexandria, VA and Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA. In his home country of Afghanistan, Zabi graduated with a degree in Law and Political Science, as well as a Master’s in International Relations. He has had an extensive professional career in Afghanistan, including his beginning as a public prosecutor and criminal investigator in the Office of the Attorney General. He also worked as a Legal Trainer with NATO and as the Director of Plan and Policy in Afghanistan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Before working at Liberty’s Promise, Zabi worked as a Housing Coordinator for the Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area.
Omar Knio Program Officer
Omar Knio conducts Civics and Citizenship programs at Parkdale and Bladensburg High Schools in Prince George's County. He moved to America from Beirut, Lebanon in 2021, after earning his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the American University of Beirut (AUB). While there, he actively supported the community by establishing soup kitchens for the underserved. Upon his move to the US, Omar pursued and obtained a master’s degree in public policy from The University of Chicago. His ultimate mission is to empower individuals to lead the lives they envision. He aims to harness the potential of Liberty’s Promise and to continue serving the community in diverse capacities.
Stephanie Meza-Gonzalez Program Officer
smezagonzalez@libertyspromise.org
Stephanie Meza-Gonzalez conducts the CE-BELL program at Blair High School and the Civics and Citizenship program at John F. Kennedy High School, both of which are located in Montgomery County, MD. Stephanie graduated from Towson University with her bachelor’s degree in Spanish. As the daughter of two Venezuelan immigrants, she hopes to provide immigrant students with the same resources her family received to adjust to life in the United States.
Juan Morales Program Officer
Juan Morales conducts Civics and Citizenship programs at High Point and Northwestern High Schools in Prince George's County. He is a graduate from the University of Maryland in College Park with a bachelor’s in English. Being a first generation Bolivian immigrant, he works to ensure others get the same opportunities. In the past, he has worked as a teacher at the Katherine Thomas School where he taught a business class to high school students. At Liberty’s Promise he works to help students achieve their full potential.
Camila Muñoz Velazquez Program Officer
Camila Muñoz Velazquez conducts the Civics and Citizenship program at Jackson Reed High School in Washington, D.C. She graduated from The Catholic University of America with her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Since high school she knew she wanted to pursue a career path with youth and as a Puerto Rican, she feels a strong passion and duty to support and empower her latino community in whatever way possible. Access to information, the mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing of her students, as well as gender equality and empowerment are all a priority in her work.
Adan Padilla Program Officer
Adan Padilla conducts Civics programs at Patterson and Benjamin Franklin High Schools in the City of Baltimore. He is a passionate advocate for immigrant rights, bringing personal experience as a native of Honduras and the child of Honduran immigrants. He currently serves at Liberty’s Promise, supporting immigrant youth and children of immigrant parents. Previously, Adan worked as a union organizer, fighting for workers’ rights and social justice. With over a decade of experience in painting, he values hard work and craftsmanship. Adan’s upbringing as an immigrant fuels his dedication to creating inclusive communities and advocating for immigrant rights. He is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of immigrant youth and families in the United States
Ingrid Ramos Program Officer
Ingrid Ramos conducts CE-BELL programs at Gaithersburg and John F. Kennedy High Schools in Montgomery County, MD. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in Political & Social Thought and Russian Language and Literature. As a first-generation student and daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, she hopes to further empower multicultural youth and remove the opportunity gap among immigrant students.
Jacqueline Romero Program Officer
Jacqueline Romero conducts Civics and Citizenship programs at Falls Church and Justice High Schools in Fairfax County, VA. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a double major in Political Science and Spanish. As a first-generation U.S. citizen who is Salvadorian and Nicaraguan, she hopes to impact and inspire immigrant youth to embrace their roots and culture while also being able to navigate their way through school and different career paths.
Leandro Travieso (Leo) Program Officer
Leo Travieso conducts the Civics and Citizenship program at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School in Washington, DC. As a Cuban-American raised in Miami, Florida; Leo received two Bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Asian Studies from Florida International University. In 2022, Leo graduated from American University with a Master’s in Peace and Conflict Resolution. He has experience working with youth as a City Year in Washington, D.C., as well as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco. Before working at Liberty’s Promise, Leo worked as a Human Resources Administrative Assistant for UnidosUS, the largest Latino nonprofit civil rights organization in the U.S. Leo hopes to inspire immigrant youth to discover their value and potential while also adjusting to a new country and culture.
Jennifer Vargas Program Officer
Jennifer Vargas conducts the CE-BELL program at Theodore Roosevelt High School. Jennifer is from Colombia, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Finances at Autonomous University of Bucaramanga (UNAB). Before she came to the U.S., she advised students to apply for college through scholarships offered by their university. She guided these students to choose their area of study and find their real passion in life. Jennifer also worked as a volunteer in a public charter school with elementary youth. She loves working with students and believes that helping them make decisions about their futures and showing them the opportunities available in this country can inspire them to pursue college and a professional career.
Barou Yoplo Program Officer
Barou Yoplo conducts Civics and Citizenship programs at West Potomac and John R. Lewis High Schools in Fairfax County. He came to the United States at the age of 16 from Cote D’Ivoire and graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Psychology. During his undergraduate years, he worked with youths at the Boys and Girls Club as a Youth Development staff member and coached soccer locally. As a first-generation immigrant, his goal is to help students adjust to the new culture and reach their full potential.