UTEP College of Education Advisory Board

Coming soon

Sereka Barlow is the CEO for the YWCA El Paso del Norte Region and previously served as the COO for Tenet’s Hospitals of Providence, Sierra Campus, El Paso, TX. She holds a Bachelors from the University of Louisiana Monroe and a Masters in Healthcare Administration from Baylor University. Sereka is a retired Lieutenant Colonel with over 25 years of healthcare leadership experience. She was recognized in 2019 and 2020 by the Becker’s Hospital Review among the top African American Leaders in Healthcare to Know. More recently she was recognized as a 2024 Women of Impact by El Paso Inc. She is the proud mother of three beautiful teenagers and has been married 23 years to her Army battle-buddy, Rodd.

Cathy Chen-Arriaga is the Founder and Executive Director of Tech Frontier, a hub at the intersection of STEM education enrichment, new collar workforce development, and innovation community building. Fab Lab El Paso, the K-12 STEM program, curates creative informal STEM education curriculum and industry 4.0 educational pathways with a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. With over 15 years of expertise in the socialization of tech and democratization of 21st century workforce skills, Cathy has successfully implemented programs with local and national stakeholders such as Economic Development Administration, City of El Paso Economic and International Development, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Microsoft, Autodesk, Mark Cuban Foundation, League of United Latin American Citizens, Infosys Foundation, and many more.

Cathy is also the producer behind PBS documentary short film "Disrupted Borders" (2021), a story about young Latina inclusion in tech and winner of National Association of Latino Arts and Culture Adan Medrano Film Legacy Award, Cleveland International Film Festival Jackson Spaulding Audience Choice Award, San Diego Latino Film Festival Award, El Paso Film Festival Reel South Documentary Award, and El Paso Film Festival Filmmaker Award.

Cathy is an Aspen-Hunt Fellow of Aspen Institute with an undergraduate degree from Duke University as a Gates Millennium Scholar and Executive Education certifications from Harvard Business School. In addition to the advisory board for The College of Education at the University of Texas at El Paso, she also serves as committee member of 2030 Borderplex Alliance Strategic Plan, planning committee member of Paso del Norte Community Foundation's "Reimagine" non-profit conference, and subcommittee member of City of El Paso Economic Development's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

J.J. Childress currently leads Microsoft’s TechSpark Initiative in Texas, an economic development and civic engagement program aimed at helping communities develop the talent for the opportunities of the 21st century. He has designed and launched innovation accelerators, broadband access, digital inclusion motions across the K-Career spectrum, and entrepreneurship programs in the United States and Mexico.

He is a born and raised El Pasoan and a serial entrepreneur who has founded several separate and diverse businesses from a manufacturing company to an independent registered investment advisory firm. He was recognized as the Small Business Administration’s Young Entrepreneur in 2017.

J.J. is a proud graduate from the University of Texas at El Paso with a BBA in Finance and Accounting, as well as an MBA. He is also a graduate of Stanford University’s Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative program through the Graduate School of Business, and the University of Washington’s Accelerating Social Transformation program through the Bothell School of Business and Evans School of Public Policy & Governance.

Lydia Cisneros is the Vice President and General Manager for the ADP office located in El Paso, Texas; also known as the OneADP El Paso location. In this role, she leads the sites’ innovation, engagement, inclusion and development programs to support ADP’s associates and business objectives.

The ADP El Paso location is also proud to be a strong supporter of many organizations in the Borderland region, including the University of Texas at El Paso, where they sponsor the Human Capital Management (HCM) Academy and a number of scholarship opportunities. During her tenure as VP/GM, the OneADP El Paso location has been recognized as a Best Place for Working Parents and the 2023 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Champion Award by YWCA El Paso del Norte Region and the Great Khalid Foundation.

Since she joined in 2006, Lydia has held multiple senior leadership roles at ADP with most of her time spent in the Small Business Services area of the organization. In addition to her dedication for enhancing the client and associate experience, Lydia is passionate about the ADP value of Social Responsibility, as seen through her community involvement experience.

Lydia holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Human Resources.

Born in El Paso, Lydia has a deep love and commitment to the continued success of the region. One of her proudest accomplishments is raising her four children alongside her husband, Gustavo.

Robert Cortinas is a dedicated public servant who has made significant contributions to the City of El Paso over his 17 years of service. As the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Robert plays a crucial role in guiding the city’s financial strategy and management. His journey with the City began in 2007 when he joined the Office of Management and Budget as an intern. Through hard work and commitment, he has earned multiple promotions, culminating in his current leadership position.

In his current role, Robert serves as the key financial advisor to the City administration, overseeing the accounting and financial functions that are vital to the city’s operations. He is also responsible for coordinating the efforts of various departments to ensure that they meet their objectives and align with the broader goals of the city government.

A graduate of California State University East Bay, Robert earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and later obtained his Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at El Paso. As the son of an Army veteran, he moved to El Paso in 1993, where he has built a fulfilling life. Robert has been happily married for over 25 years and is a proud father of three children, aged 25, 12, and 7. His commitment to both his family and his community exemplifies his dedication to service and leadership.

Natalie Littlefield is Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at The Borderplex Alliance. In this role, she leads the development and implementation of the organization's regional economic development strategic plans and cultivates relationships with expanding and relocating companies. In this capacity, she has built various associations and special initiatives. Immediately before taking this role, Natalie worked at a workforce development board where she oversaw the administration of federal, state, and privately funded industry training programs and research projects.

Natalie has been on several boards and committees, including the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Economic and Workforce Council, UTEP College of Education, UTEP Department of Industrial Manufacturing and Systems Engineering, the El Paso Chamber Board, the El Paso Chamber Education and Workforce Committee (2018 Chair), Progress 321 Board (Secretary), World Affairs Council (President), the Texas Education Agency IT Advisory Council, and the United Way Young Leaders Society Board. She was a 2023 Hunt Fellow at The Aspen Institute and a 2023 participant in the National Security Seminar at the U.S. Army War College.

She has a law degree from American University Washington College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from UTEP, along with several continuing education certificates. She is currently a member of the Texas Economic Development Council and the International Economic Development Council.

Coming Soon

At Raiz, Max has focused on creating a culture focused on a foundation of human dignity where becoming the Employer of Choice is a priority for attracting the best talent. He focuses his team on the fact that Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, Belonging, and Accessibility are both morally important and a strategic advantage. Mr. Villaronga’s actions demonstrate that he surrounds himself with the most valued, energetic, and intelligent leaders and he resources their success. Max believes you can do well by doing good, which is the primary focus in Raiz’s vision of individual and community development. The organizational financials and behaviors demonstrate this vision in action with successful community lending, the low fee structures, new products for underserved communities, accessible digital platforms for members, progressive savings products, support of hundreds of nonprofit causes, the formation of charitable Development Pillars-based nonprofit foundation, and the continued growth for Raiz.

Mr. Villaronga is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor in Business Administration, the University of Texas at Dallas with a Master of Business Administration in the Global Leadership Program, the Graduate School of Retail Banking at Furman University, and he is a Certified Chief Executive (CCE), and a Development Educator (DE).

Max has been married to Erin, a San Antonio native and fellow Texas A&M graduate, for 26 years. They parent two wonderful children, Sarah (22) and Rachel (18), that excel in school and enjoy reading, art, music, sports and the outdoors. In the community, Mr. Villaronga currently serves as the Chairman of the Underserved Communities Foundation, Past Chairman of the El Paso Greater Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Secretary of the Board of the National Association of Latino Credit Unions & Professionals, Board of Trustees for the El Paso Symphony Orchestra as Chairman-Elect, UTEP College of Education Advisory Board Member, Past President of the Tocando Music Program Board, and as Past Chairman of the CUNA Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Subcommittee.