We have a Dream Team on board, and we couldn’t be more proud!
Rebecca Maria Aponte, M.S.- Founder, President and Executive Director. She completed her graduate studies at Loyola University New Orleans, the city where she worked with Hurricane Katrina survivors. She trained in marriage and family dynamics, human development, Play Therapy ®, grief, resilience, and crisis management, among other areas. After envisioning this project in New Orleans, Louisiana, she started it officially in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2009. She’s the main seminar speaker, and program developer. A big fan of community empowerment, team work, and positive thinking, she has over a decade of experience working with community organizations focused on social development, family support, children and adolescents support, and personal growth. A former ballet dancer, she currently serves on the Board of Directors of CoDa21. She is a member of Chi Sigma Iota, Alpha Kappa Psi, CVX-PR, American Counseling Association, APA, Play Therapy Association, and is also the author of OrganiCo. and co-founder of Puerto Rico ¡Positivo! (PR+). She enjoys spending time with her family, enjoying the arts, dancing, travelling, cooking, watching sports, and volunteering.
Celeste E. Suris, J.D.- Co-founder and Vice President, and Director of Legal Affairs. She is an attorney and professor, who graduated from the Elliot School of International Affairs, holding a BA in International Public Health and Latin America, as well as being a Cum Laude Juris Doctor graduate of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico’s School of Law. She has several years of experience working with youth groups, teenagers and schools. She enjoys developing community work projects, and has been in the process of Magis’ development from the very early stages. She enjoys social causes, literature, cooking, films, and travelling.
Jean G. Vidal, LL.M.- Co-founder and Secretary, serving as the “stage manager” of the organization. He joined the original team in its early stages, helping with our legal work. Currently, he oversees our operations and community impact, as well as provide support to our other team members. A busy man, he is on the Board of Trustees of Robinson School in Puerto Rico, as well as a member of the American Bar Association and Puerto Rico State Bar Association. He’s the creator of Actual Confusion, and actively writes for various periodicals and media sources across the United States.
Ashley K. Randall, M.S.- Executive Board member and Couple’s Corner Director, she is our “relationship guru“, currently finishing her doctoral studies at University of Arizona. Her research interests are in (1) romantic couples’ emotional linkage as a function of attachment security, (2) the impact of dyadic coping on emotional linkage, and (3) the effects of dyadic coping and emotional linkage on health behaviors. Her clinical interests include couple and family therapy treatments and interventions. A Fulbright scholar, her research and uncanny passion for psychology has made her a key team player and project developer. She is also a member of the American Psychological Association, the International Association for Relationship Research, the American Counseling Association, and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. An avid globetrotter, her next adventure will bring her to South Africa to celebrate her doctoral dissertation and degree in 2012.
Javier Perez, Ph.D. Executive Board member and Mental Health Education Director. Currently doing his postdoctoral fellowship in Psychiatric Genetics after finishing his doctoral studies in Neuroscience. His research interests include; (1) Uncovering the neurobiological basis of mood and anxiety disorders, (2) The neural mechanisms of emotion regulation and resilience, and (3) The role of gene and environment interactions on brain development and its effect on risk for psychiatric disorders. He is a member of the Society for Neurosciences and serves a reviewer for various neuroscience journals. On his spare time he enjoys practicing yoga, sailing, and spending time with his family.
Jose J. Ortiz-Carlo- Executive Board Member and Director of New Media and Technology Development. He is currently a technology professor at a local school, and has several years of experience working with adolescents and technological developments in education.He holds a bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences and Computer Sciences from Sacred Heart University in Puerto Rico, and is completing his thesis for a Master’s in Educational Computing from InterAmerican University in Puerto Rico.
Luna T. Sanchez, M.D.- Executive Board member, Psychiatry and Veterans Affairs Liaison, and co-director of the Yellow Ribbon project.
Beatriz E. Ramirez-Betances- Editor-in-Chief.
Robert K. Rexach- Webmaster.
