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.
Leslie Dimas Senior Program Officer of Montgomery County Programs
Leslie Dimas conducts the Civics and Citizenship programs at Northwood and Wheaton High Schools 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.
Stephanie Meza-Gonzalez Senior Program Officer of Prince George’s County Programs
smezagonzalez@libertyspromise.org
Stephanie Meza-Gonzalez conducts the CE-BELL programs at Montgomery Blair and John F. Kennedy High Schools, 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.
Jacqueline Romero Senior Program Officer of Alumni Relations
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.
Meliane Kapmeni Finance Officer
Meliane Kapmeni works in the main office of Liberty’s Promise, in Alexandria, VA, assisting in managing the finances for the organization. She is a current student at the University of Baltimore, majoring in Accounting. She is hopeful that her time at Liberty’s Promise will help her grow in both her professional and personal development.
Shaffan Bajwa Program Officer
Shaffan Bajwa conducts Civics and Citizenship programs at Bladensburg and Parkdale High Schools in Prince George’s County, MD. He graduated from Columbia University with a degree in History. As a first-generation immigrant from Pakistan, Shaffan is passionate about helping immigrants realize their dreams. Shaffan understands the many challenges that immigrants face, and hopes to empower and support the youth as they navigate through their new communities.
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.
Michael Figueroa Program Officer
Michael Figueroa conducts the Civics and Citizenship programs at High Point and Northwestern High Schools in Prince George’s County, MD. Michael grew up in Miami, Florida, where he earned his associate’s degree from Miami-Dade Community College before transferring to the University of Florida and receiving his bachelor’s degree in Political Science. His passion for helping immigrant youth stems from growing up seeing his parents help fellow Venezuelan immigrants, who arrived in Miami in search of a better life.
Adan Padilla Program Officer
Adan Padilla conducts Civics and Citizenship 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 the CE-BELL programs at Gaithersburg High School and the Civics & Citizenship Jr. program at Odessa Shannon Middle School. 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.
Sandra Segura Program Officer
Sandra Segura conducts the Civics and Citizenship Jr. program at Loiederman High School in Montgomery County, MD. Sandra is from Medellin, Colombia, where she graduated from the Catholic University of Pereira with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Her commitment to volunteering began in high school and has continued through her professional life. Sandra is passionate about supporting underserved communities, believing that every action can contribute to positive societal change.
Nicolle Serna Program Officer
Nicolle Serna conducts the Civics and Citizentship programs at West Potomac High School and John R. Lewis High School in Fairfax County, VA. Originally from Colombia, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and International Affairs from Sergio Arboleda University in Bogota. Prior to her role at Liberty’s Promise, Nicolle worked at the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombia, where she focused on international cooperation projects that provided opportunities for access to education and socio-economic development for youth from vulnerable communities. As a Colombian living abroad, she understands that the path of immigrant youth can be particularly challenging. However, through education, guidance, and support, we can uncover our true potential and contribute to meaningful change in our communities.
Leandro (Leo) Travieso Program Officer
Leo Travieso conducts the Civics and Citizenship program at Jackson Reed High 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.
Diego Vega Program Officer
Diego Vega conducts the Civics and Citizenship Jr. program at Lansdowne Middle School in Baltimore, MD. As the son of Mexican immigrant parents he is compassionate about the hurdles these students face on their journey to thrive in a new environment. He graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in History. Previously he has been an educator for special needs students in his hometown of San Diego, CA, as well as Los Angeles, CA and Dallas, TX. He also worked directly with unaccompanied immigrant youth as a Case Manager during 2021. He looks forward to continuing his journey as a advisor and mentor to students In Maryland.