Board of Directors

Noel Dunne

Noel is an immigrant from Ireland who immigrated to the United States over thirty years ago. Noel came to the San Luis Valley in the early 1980’s and was the former director for San Luis Valley Christian Community Services. Noel was on the SLVIRC Advisory Board prior to being elected to the Board of Directors in 2002. Noel is very involved with Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alamosa and is very involved in the community. He is viewed as a community leader and is currently employed as a Realtor with Colorado Realty.

Jesus Gaspar

Jesus is an immigrant from Guatemala, who emigrated in the early 1980’s.  He fled from Guatemala during the civil war and the turmoil that was taking place during that time.  Jesus is a Legal Permanent Resident and is now working with SLVIRC to apply for citizenship.  Jesus is one of the Guatemalan leaders for the Guatemalan community, which consists of approximately 400 people (including children).  When SLVIRC became a new non-profit organization, Jesus was recruited to be on the governing board.  Jesus is employed with RAKHRA Mushroom Farm as a Foreman and has been employed with this company since coming to the San Luis Valley.

Dolores Lucero, President

Dolores is a San Luis Valley native and has lived in different parts of the world, including Spain.  Dolores is a retired housewife who traveled with her husband and chose to return to the San Luis Valley when they retired ten years ago.  After returning to the Valley, she was the Parent Involvement Coordinator for Alamosa Head Start. She continued that work by doing Federal Reviews of Head Start throughout the nation for three years. Dolores is very involved with Sacred Heart Catholic Church and serves on several different boards, such as Alamosa Head Start, Healthy Habits, and Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center.  She is very passionate about working with the immigrant population in the San Luis Valley.

Mark Abendroth

Mark has served on the Board of Directors since late 2006. Mark moved to the San Luis Valley during the summer of 2006, with his wife, an immigrant from Columbia. Mark is a professor at Adams State College, where he teaches graduate courses in the Language, Literacy, and Culture Program. Mark has several years of experience teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and Social Studies to students from various ethnic backgrounds in Minnesota, and before that at a Bilingual school in Brazil. Mark traveled to Cuba several times for his Doctoral thesis research. Mark is moderately fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese.

Francisco Lucas, Treasurer

Francisco Lucas is an immigrant from Guatemala.  He fled from Guatemala in the early 1980’s during the civil war and turmoil in that country.  He settled in the San Luis Valley and worked for RAKHRA Mushroom Farm for approximately 17 years.  Francisco is currently employed with Trinidad State Junior College and is very involved with the Guatemalan community.  He is currently the leader for the Guatemalan Community.  Francisco broadcasts a community awareness informational broadcast on our local public radio station (KRZA) in two different languages, his native language (Q'anjob'al) and in Spanish.

Silvia Evans, Vice President

Silvia was elected to the board of directors in January 2005.  Silvia immigrated from Mexico over fifteen years ago as a Legal Permanent Resident. Silvia recently applied for citizenship in early 2007 and is now a Naturalized Citizen. She is currently employed with Even Start Family Resource Center as a Secretary.

Michelle Salazar, Secretary

Michelle Salazar was elected to the board of directors in the January 2005 meeting.  Michelle is currently completing doctoral work in Hispanic linguistics through UNM and is teaching Spanish at Adams State College.  Michelle has lived in the San Luis Valley for over 25 years where she has raised three children.  Michelle is married to Leroy Salazar, (Ken and John Salazar’s brother).  Michelle is very interested in immigrant issues; therefore, she expressed an interest in being on the board of directors.  

Brian Reeves

The newest Board Member. More information to come...

Silvia Arias

Silvia was elected in May 2007, when a vacancy occurred. Silvia has been a Legal Permanent Resident since 1996 and has recently applied for citizenship. Silvia and her husband own Dos Rios Restaurant in Monte Vista, CO. Silvia is actively involved with Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alamosa and serves on numerous committees.