Team Dream
Our team brings together people from a wide range of professional, educational, and personal backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to supporting young people and their families.
We are educators, mentors, advocates, nonprofit professionals, community builders, and lifelong learners who believe in the power of opportunity and relationships. The diversity of our experiences helps us better understand the unique strengths, challenges, and aspirations of the students we serve, allowing us to build meaningful connections and create lasting impact throughout Boulder County.
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Join Our Board!
"I Have A Dream" Foundation of Boulder County is seeking mission-aligned community and business leaders for terms beginning October 1, 2026.
We welcome diverse perspectives and are especially seeking leaders with professional expertise in:
Education K–12, higher education, workforce development, or policy pathways.
Strategic Marketing & Communications Brand building, digital media, public relations, and regional storytelling.
Legal Nonprofit governance, compliance, risk management, labor/employment law, or advocacy pathways.
The Board Development Committee actively welcomes candidates with varied professional backgrounds whose unique networks, expertise, and lived experiences can advance our organizational capacity.
Executive Leadership
Dr. Perla Delgado
CEO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Dr. Perla Delgado joined “I Have A Dream” in 2020 with decades of leadership experience advocating for education equity and social justice. A Boulder native, she began working in the local community in high school and then later was employed by Emergency Family Assistance and Community Action Programs in Boulder. Perla came to IHDF from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, where she served as the Director and Principal Investigator of the College Assistance Migrant Program. She holds a Ph.D. in Education from Texas State University.
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303-444-3636 ext. 116
Travis Herbert
LEAD SENIOR DIRECTOR
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Travis joined IHDF in 2018 and oversees our high school sites and post secondary department. In addition, Travis oversees the Social Work Internship program, Wellness, and Prevention initiatives at IHDF. He has over 20 years experience working with youth. Travis is a Licensed Social Worker and a Certified Prevention Specialist.
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303-444-3636 | travis.herbert@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Lupita Crespo
SENIOR DIRECTOR
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Lupita is a native of Longmont, CO and holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Business from the University of Colorado-Boulder. With over 9 years of experience, she has dedicated herself to directly supporting local youth, bringing her passion and expertise to IHDF since joining in 2018.
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720-491-2181 | lupita.crespo@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Rebecca Shanfield
SENIOR DIRECTOR
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Becca graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in Teaching and Environmental Studies before earning her Master’s in Education. Originally from Fullerton, CA, her journey has taken her through San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Portland, and Nicaragua, where she served in the Peace Corps collaborating with local teachers to teach science. Following her Peace Corps service, Becca taught third grade bilingually for five years, bringing a rich cultural perspective and a deep commitment to multilingual learning to IHDF since joining the team in 2021. She is now proud to call Boulder, CO home.
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303-444-3636 | rebecca.shanfield@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Danielle Otsuka
DIRECTOR - DEVELOPMENT
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Danielle Otsuka is an experienced development and community engagement professional with a strong track record of growing fundraising revenue and building meaningful partnerships for mission-driven organizations. She has led successful events and donor initiatives for nonprofits including the National Kidney Foundation, Alzheimer's Association, the Colorado Education Initiative, and the Arthritis Foundation. Known for her collaborative leadership and strategic approach, Danielle excels at connecting people to purpose and creating opportunities that strengthen communities and advance organizational impact.
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Maren Herby
DIRECTOR - FINANCE
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Maren Herby is the Director of Finance at I Have a Dream Foundation, where she oversees financial strategy, budgeting, and compliance. Prior to this work, she built her career in non-profit and mission-focused work at Goodwill of North Georgia, and is a proud Georgia Tech alumna. In her free time, Maren is committed to advancing efforts in anti-human trafficking, anti-domestic violence, and violence prevention through a public health lens.
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Programming
Aurora Santos
PROGRAM MANAGER: CARBON VALLEY
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Aurora grew up on a small Pacific island called Saipan, then earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology and played volleyball at West Virginia University. Before joining IHDF in 2016 as Program Director for the Carbon Valley Class, she worked in education and education support roles for a variety of organizations. She oversees regional programmatic execution, continuous cohort site operations, school district relations, and direct community partner alignments specifically within the Carbon Valley and Weld County geographic service sectors.
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720-494-3895 | aurora.santos@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Katie Allen
PROGRAM MANAGER: ALICIA
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Katie originally hails from Monterey, California, and moved to Denver after earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Literature. She attended the Boettcher Teaching Institute and taught third grade at a charter school before completing her Master’s Degree in English at CU Denver. Katie joined IHDF in the Fall of 2022 as an AmeriCorps member and is thrilled to continue her journey as the Program Manager of the Alicia Class, where she champions education, equity, and socio-emotional learning.
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katie.allen@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Stephanie Loera
PROGRAM MANAGER: ALTITUDE
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Stephanie serves as the Program Manager for the new Lafayette class, Altitude at Ryan Elementary. She is a Colorado native, and her family is from Chihuahua, Mexico. Stephanie graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a Bachelor's Degree of Social Work. She enjoys working with youth and has experience developing curriculum for after school programs for over five years.
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Gabriella Harmoning
PROGRAM MANAGER: HIGH SCHOOL (BOULDER)
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Gabriella grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, and graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in Political Science and Religion. Before moving to Boulder in 2023 to teach Spanish and Chinese in the Twin Cities, she joined IHDF to work with the Oak Class, later transitioning to the Diagonal Court Class in 2024. Today, she manages day-to-day high school cohort execution, intensive academic interventions, family wrap-around connection circles, and customized postsecondary pre-collegiate tracking blocks for secondary students. In her free time, she loves to read, bake, and learn new languages!
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Ruth Álvarez Luna
PROGRAM MANAGER: NORTH BOULDER (NOBO)
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Ruth Álvarez Luna was born and raised in Durango, México, and recently graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a BFA and a Minor in Spanish. As a former participant of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), she spent five years with the Migrant Education Program supporting families through mentorship and deep community engagement. Ruth recently transitioned into her role as Program Manager at the "I Have A Dream" Foundation of Boulder County to continue this vital work long-term. Alongside her advocacy, she is an interdisciplinary artist whose creative practice explores themes of migration, identity, and cultural memory.
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Molly McCracken
PROGRAM MANAGER: LA VISTA
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Molly earned her Master’s in Social Work from Metropolitan State University in 2024 and serves as the Program Manager for the La Vista Dreamer Scholars across Boulder County. Originally from Fort Collins, CO, she graduated from Colorado State University with degrees in Sociology and Human Development. Molly has worked with youth for over six years, growing within IHDF since 2020 from an AmeriCorps member to an intern, a specialist, and finally into her current management role.
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Gildardo Andrade
PROGRAM SPECIALIST: ALICIA
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Gil is a Mexican-American US Navy veteran, Florida State University and University of Denver alumnus, self-proclaimed Florida man, and dedicated dog dad. Gil found his way to "I Have A Dream" through an internship opportunity and hasn't looked back since. Bringing valuable previous experience in the nonprofit sector, he loves continuing to serve his community as the Program Specialist for the Alicia class. In his free time, you can usually find him outside rock climbing, trail running, and enjoying everything the Colorado outdoors has to offer.
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Alex Cervantes
PROGRAM SPECIALIST: ALTITUDE/ ACCOUNTING I
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Alex is a proud graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in 2025. While attending college, he served as an AmeriCorps member with the "I Have A Dream" Foundation for two years before officially joining the organization full-time. Today, Alex wears two hats: he serves as a Program Specialist for the Altitude Class in Lafayette, supporting students in their academic and personal growth, and works as an Accountant I with the finance team. Because of his unique journey, he is deeply passionate about giving back and helping create opportunities for the next generation of Dreamers.
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Ashley Castillo
PROGRAM SPECIALIST: HIGH SCHOOL (BOULDER)
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Ashley was born and raised right here in Thornton and Brighton, Colorado. She graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2025 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Communications. After gaining valuable hands-on experience interning with the Alicia and La Vista cohorts in 2023, she is ecstatic to return to the foundation professionally to provide dedicated youth advocacy and keep progressing our students.
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Kaya Gallucci
PROGRAM SPECIALIST: NORTH BOULDER (NOBO)
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Kayla is a Boulder resident who brings both lived experience and professional expertise to ensuring local youth feel deeply supported. Her extensive background includes youth crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, early childhood education, and administrative roles at CU Boulder. She is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology, with a long-term goal of dedicated work in youth advocacy and mental health. We’re thrilled to have her vibrant passion and commitment to equity join our mission here at IHDF.
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Aranely Dominguez
PROGRAM SPECIALIST: LA VISTA
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Aranely is a Colorado native who was proudly raised in Longmont. She pursued her academic career at Metropolitan State University of Denver, earning a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a minor in healthcare, alongside a Bachelor of Modern Languages concentrated in Spanish. With over four years of experience as a Student Outreach Coordinator at MSU Denver, Aranely has honed her skills in developing communication channels and engagement resources for students. In addition to her administrative work, she has been actively involved in clinical spaces, offering rehabilitation therapy to underserved communities and utilizing adaptive exercise techniques for individuals with brain and spinal cord injuries.
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Valeria Zavala
PROGRAM SPECIALIST: MOUNTAIN VIEW
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Valeria was born and raised right here in Boulder. She graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, concentrating in Finance and Real Estate, alongside a minor in Spanish. Having experienced the foundational lifecycle support of the "I Have A Dream" Foundation firsthand growing up, she is ecstatic to return to the team professionally to give back and create that exact same long-term impact for the next generation of scholars.
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valeria.zavala@ihaveadreamboulder.org
José Jiménez
ADVANCING FAMILIES PROGRAM COORDINATOR
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Jose Jimenez grew up in the immigrant community of Casa de la Esperanza and became a Dreamer guest in 2009. This personal background completely solidified his dedication to helping others overcome the obstacles faced by first-generation families. Driven by a passion for his community, Jose earned a Sociology degree as a first-generation graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder. Today, he is a resilient advocate who loves using his personal story to guide, mentor, and uplift future generations.
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303-444-3636 ext.111 | jose.jimenez@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Andrea Nieto
COMMUNITY CENTER COORDINATOR
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two first-generation college graduates, Andrea has always been a fierce advocate for educational access. She spent 11 years as a middle school educator and school administrator throughout the Denver metro area, living by the motto, "Be the person you needed when you were younger." Driven by a passion for building community, she connects deeply with Dreamers and their families to help them achieve their goals.
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Beatrice Salazar
POST SECONDARY PROGRAM MANAGER
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Beatrice “Bea” brings a wealth of experience working with both high school and postsecondary students. She is a tremendous asset to the Griffin community and our organization at large in helping scholars navigate their educational journeys, explore postsecondary options, and turn their dreams into realities. Throughout her career, Bea has dedicated herself to aiding students and their families through the college-going process and helping them stay enrolled. Having previously worked at Metropolitan State, the Community Colleges of Aurora and Denver, and the Denver Scholarship Foundation, she excels at ensuring students have the exact resources and support they need to succeed in their future endeavors.
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303-444-3636 ext.111 | beatrice.salazar@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Johana Campos
POST SECONDARY PROGRAM SPECIALIST
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Johana was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, and raised right here in Boulder, Colorado. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder and joined the "I Have A Dream" Foundation in 2021 as a Post-Secondary Coach in the College and Career Department. Because of her own lived experience, she deeply understands the obstacles students overcome to pursue higher education. Today, as an active core member of the Post-Secondary Support team, Johana provides vital hands-on assistance with semester online check-ins, case management tracking, student scholarship compliance monitoring, and higher education financial mapping workflows.
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303-444-3636 ext.111 | johana.campos@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Veronica Quezada-Gomez
POST SECONDARY PROGRAM SPECIALIST
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Veronica was born and raised right here in Colorado. Driven by a desire to understand and support others, she graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 2022 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice. She has been bringing her passion to the foundation for nearly a year, starting as a Program Specialist for the Carbon Valley class before recently transitioning to the Post-secondary Department. When she isn't working with our students, you can usually find her soaking up quality time with her family and her dogs!
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720-837-1767 | veronica.quezada@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Gabbie Cooper
POST SECONDARY PROGRAM COORDINATOR
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and supporting students to reach their education and career dreams is exactly what drives Gabbie every single day. Growing up in New York, she built a strong background in equity work and youth programming across education and public health. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University and a Master of Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Prior to joining our Post-Secondary team, Gabbie managed youth-focused programs centering on workforce development, social-emotional learning, and holistic wellbeing. Outside of work, she loves volunteering with Up-A-Creek Robotics in Longmont to support first-generation students in STEM, alongside cooking, baking, and diving into all things Colorado—from skiing and hiking to
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Central Office
Cindy Weitz
ADMINISTRATIVE & RISK MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
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Cindy coordinates our central office operations, risk management data processing, compliance tracking, and administrative human resource infrastructure. She is the anchor of our daily logistics, managing mandated training validations, automobile safety clearances, and vital vendor account documentation for all organizational personnel and volunteers. Her dedication ensures our entire team has a safe, organized, and fully supported environment to do their best work for our scholars.
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Dr. Scott Moore
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
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Dr. Scott Moore is a creative with a rich professional background spanning business, higher education, and faith-based organizations. Originally from the Chicago area, he lived and worked in New York City, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Denver before joining the IHDF team to advance our mission through strategic marketing and communications. Scott holds a Ph.D. in Religious and Theological Studies from the University of Denver and the Iliff School of Theology, and he continues to share his passion for learning by teaching at Regis University.
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303-444-3636 ext. 140 | scott.moore@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Tina Nguyen
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
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Tina Nguyen serves as the Development Manager, where she spearheads high-impact stakeholder engagement and alumni community-building initiatives. She drives strategic outreach for critical organizational networks, leading dedicated engagement programs for both our AmeriCorps Alumni and Dreamer Scholar Alumni cohorts. In addition to mobilizing these vital networks, Tina oversees the Young Professional Board and the Student Advisory Board, bridging generational leadership to elevate community advocacy. She also supports regional fundraising campaigns while continuing to direct the foundational infrastructure for IHDF’s active work-study placements, student internships, and embedded AmeriCorps programs.
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303-444-3636 | travis.herbert@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Megan Banks
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
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Megan Banks is a Boulder native who is passionate about telling impactful stories and expanding opportunities for young people. Drawing on her background in marketing, communications, and community engagement, she supports the "I Have A Dream" Foundation of Boulder County's fundraising and outreach efforts. Megan brings a natural sense of creativity, deep collaboration, and an unwavering belief in the power of education to everything she does.
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Wolf Star Duran
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
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Wolf Star is from the Wind River Reservation in central-west Wyoming and is a proud member of the Northern Arapaho and Chippewa Cree tribes. In December 2023, she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Native American & Indigenous Studies from the University of Wyoming. Now proudly calling Longmont home, she is thrilled to bring her talents to the Development team to support IHDF’s mission and vision. Wolf Star is a fierce advocate for Native American rights, and in her free time, she loves creating beautiful beadwork, reading, and soaking up quality time with her family.
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wolfstar.duran@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Michael Mayeresera
ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE II
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Michael Mayeresera serves as our Accounting Associate, where he pairs a sharp eye for numbers with a deep dedication to community stewardship. He is currently a graduate student in Accounting, Technology, and Analytics at the University of Denver, bringing fresh analytical insights to our team. Michael is incredibly passionate about supporting organizations that help young people succeed, and he loves using his finance background behind the scenes to keep our foundation moving forward.
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Join Our Team
We're always looking for talented people who are passionate about making an impact. Explore our current openings and learn how you can contribute to our growing team.
Don’t see a fit?
Send us your resume and we'll keep you in mind
for future opportunities.
careers@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Open Roles
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Location: Longmont, CO.
Reporting Structure: Reports to a designated Senior Director (SD) and works collaboratively with IHDF leadership.
Cohort: 45 Dreamer Scholars (currently elementary age).
Programmatic Outcomes: Focus on social & emotional development and wellness, thriving in educational contexts, and the pursuit of post-secondary education and/or a meaningful career.