Doris Garay, Chair
Family Engagement Facilitator/Social Worker, Fairfax Department of Family Services
Doris Garay is a Family Engagement Facilitator/Social Worker III for the Department of Family Services in Fairfax, Virginia. Doris holds a degree in Multicultural Adult Education from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Science in Infant and Family Education/Early Childhood from Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia. She has over 20 years of experience working in education and social services in the metropolitan D.C. area. Doris is a former Briya staff member.
Stuart M. Butler, Vice Chair
Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Stuart Butler is originally from the UK and has over 40 years of experience in US public policy research, writing on health care, education, housing, and other social issues. Stuart served six years on the Mary’s Center board, including as board chair. He also serves on the board of the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, which seeks agreement among people and organizations that disagree about policy topics. Stuart holds a PhD in American history from St. Andrews University in Scotland.
Dimelsa Zelaya, Secretary
Briya student
Dimelsa Zelaya is from El Salvador and came to the United States in 2002. She is a mother of three, Katerin (19), Alejandro (7), and Adam (3). Adam attends the pre-K class at Briya. Dimelsa started taking classes at Briya in 2017 to improve her English in order to become a US citizen and complete the NEDP program. She became a US citizen in December 2022 and in June 2023 she graduated from the NEDP program. Her plans for the future are to find a job, save money and go to college in order to become a social worker to help her community. Dimelsa has participated in different activities around the city representing Briya and she is also part of Briya Voices for All, a student advocacy group at Briya.
Geovanna Izurieta, Treasurer
Chief Finance Officer, Washington Latin PCS
Geovanna brings over 20 years of nonprofit finance management experience, including the last 14 years in DC’s charter school sector. Formerly Director of Finance and Administration at Briya, she now serves as CFO at Washington Latin PCS. As an immigrant herself, Briya’s mission deeply resonates with her, and she draws inspiration from the organization’s commitment to give all students, regardless of background, the opportunity to thrive and succeed.Geovanna has an M.S. in economics and management sciences from the Catholic University of Guayaquil.
Brenda Martinez
Private Deal Analyst, Amazon
Brenda Martinez is currently a Private Deal Analyst for Amazon. In her current role, she performs contract reviews, pulls relevant data and performs analysis for leaders on her team using QuickSight. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Catholic University in Business Management. While she was still a student at Catholic, she worked during the summer and the semester at Briya as an Administrative Assistant and upon graduation became a Finance and Business Administrator.
Brittany Pope
Economic Security Supervisor, Bread for the City
Brittany Pope serves as Economic Security Supervisor at Bread for the City, a non-profit organization in Washington, DC, which provides comprehensive services to DC residents living with low incomes, while also striving to help them develop power to determine the future of their own communities. She leads the Economic Security team, which focuses on coordinating, supporting, and advocating for guaranteed income projects and policy change. Prior to joining Bread for the City, Brittany was a Student Services Coordinator at Briya. This enriching experience inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in Social Work from Catholic University, with a concentration in Social Justice and Change. Born and raised in Washington, DC, Brittany believes in uplifting the residents of our city and striving for a just society for all.
Alejandra Sandoval
Briya student
Alejandra Sandoval is a Briya student in the Child Development Associate class. She is from Mexico and came to the United States in 2003 without speaking English or knowing anyone except her husband. Alejandra first began studying at Briya in 2011. She has three children, two of whom previously attended Briya with her. At Bancroft Elementary School, where her children currently attend, Alejandra is a member of the Local School Advisory Team and active in the PTO, parent coffee events, and fundraising initiatives. She also participates in education advocacy with the DC parent organization PAVE. With improved English skills, Alejandra hopes to attend college in the future.
Michael Baer
Partner, Isaacson, Miller
Michael Baer has been a partner for two decades at Isaacson, Miller, an executive search firm that partners with mission-driven organizations to identify leaders that can further their contribution to a strong civic culture. Previously, Mike served as the senior vice president of the American Council on Education, the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities. Michael began his career as a professor and, later, department chair in political science at the University of Kentucky before serving for nine years as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He also spent eight years as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Northeastern University. Michael has led and served on numerous national higher education and community boards.
Bill Bletzinger
Finance, Retired
Bill Bletzinger has over 40 years of nonprofit management experience in arts administration, health care, and education, with an emphasis on supporting immigrant populations. Bill’s career included serving as CFO of Mary’s Center and, most recently, as Director of Finance for Briya until his retirement in 2019. With a BFA in Drama from Carnegie Mellon University and an MFA in Theatre Administration from the Yale School of Drama, Bill continues his lifelong interest in theater by studying the history of the Elizabethan stage. Bill also has an MPH in Community-Oriented Primary Care from George Washington University and is a committed advocate for immigrants’ health and well-being.
Jennifer Huang
Finance Lead, EdOps
Jennifer Huang is a Finance Lead under the New Market Division for EdOps. With experience in financial reporting, internal control, budgeting and facilities accounting, she currently performs as an outsourced CFO for a portfolio of 5-8 schools across the national finance team client base. Prior to her current role, she had worked closely with Briya, as a Finance Specialist at EdOps, for almost 8 years. She holds a master degree in accountancy from George Washington University.
Carolina Miguel Hernandez
Briya student
Carolina Miguel Hernandez is from Mexico and has been living in the US for 22 years. Carolina has 3 kids and is currently a student in the Advanced English class at Briya. She has also participated in Briya’s CDA program. She hopes to continue improving her English, take the NEDP class and get her diploma, and look for a better job in the future.