Meet Our Staff
People who love what they do.
Leadership Team
Rosamaria Murillo, Ph.D., LMSW – Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Murillo joined El Buen as its Chief Executive Officer in July 2019. As a recognized public health advocate with extensive experience in public policy, higher education, nonprofit and government management, for more than 25 years she has led within different systems to develop, implement, and strengthen services for underserved communities. She holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from the School of Business at Our Lady of the Lake, a Master of Social Work degree from Our Lady of the Lake University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. Murillo has served as a lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at San Antonio, and Texas State where she has taught graduate and undergraduate courses focusing on social justice, policy, nonprofit management, program development, organizational leadership, public administration and child welfare.
Dolores Alvarez – Director of Programs
Ms. Alvarez joined El Buen in June of 2021 as the Director of Programs. Ms. Alvarez directs all programmatic aspects of the organization. She has more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit and government program management, staff supervision and leadership, as well as, policy development, administration of grant funds and quality assurance. She is a first-generation college graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Social Work.Prior to joining El Buen she worked as Manager of Program Support for the TB/HIV/STD Prevention & Care Section at the Texas Department of State Health Services.Ms. Alvarez enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Sara DuPont– Director of Program Strategy & Communications
Sara manages El Buen’s strategic planning initiatives. Previously, she led fundraising and communications efforts for El Buen. Sara has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and discovered her passion for helping others while working to establish a school at an orphanage in Moshi, Tanzania. She began her nonprofit career working as a STEM educator and community coordinator at a children’s museum and later transitioned to fundraising for institutions such as the New York Botanical Garden. She loves to travel and has taught English as a Second Language in Hong Kong. Sara and her husband Jules, a French national, moved to Austin to put down roots in 2018. Sara enjoys cooking, practicing yoga, playing with her two Siamese kittens and brushing up on her French.
Luis Garcia – Director of Data & Analytics
Luis manages El Buen’s technology infrastructure and data reporting. He was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico and graduated from Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon with a degree in Electronic and Communications Engineering. He moved to the U.S. in 2008 and has lived in Houston, North Carolina and New Jersey. After settling in Austin, Luis joined El Buen in 2014. In his spare time, Luis can be found running around Austin or camping with his family.
Sandra Freitag – Director of Finance and Operations
Sandra oversees finance, operations and human resources and has been with El Buen for 15 years. She studied journalism at Texas A&M University and received TANO’s Nonprofit Leadership and Management Certificate in 2009. Sandra has more than 40 years of experience in business management and is a successful entrepreneur, having established and managed two prosperous businesses since 1981. Sandra loves watching Aggie sporting events and spending time with her five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She has served as pianist and organist of her church for 61 years and also plays for the Elgin Community Choir.
Administration
Georgia Hernandez – Development Coordinator
Georgia serves as a bilingual Community Health Navigator. She is a proud Mexican American Austinite and mom to a beautiful pit bull. She is a first-generation college graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio where she earned her Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Public Administration. Prior to joining El Buen, she worked in the non-profit sector at various capacities, from being a part of the Development team for the San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic to the Outreach/Family Reunification team for RAICES. She is devoted to serving and being a voice for underserved communities and is thrilled to be a part of El Buen’s team!
Noemi Hernandez – Program Support Specialist
Noemi brings over 15 years of office administrative experience. Prior to joining El Buen she worked as a lead recruiter for a local staffing company serving the construction field. A native Texan, mother of two daughters and two fur babies, Noemi loves spending her time with her family, friends, and pups. She loves learning new things and is always up for a challenge. Noemi considers it a great honor to be part of an organization that provides so much help to our community such as El Buen.
Jeanette Rottas – Senior Data Analyst
Luis Sanchez – Communications Specialist
Luis Sanchez manages El Buen’s communication efforts. Before joining El Buen, Luis accrued over ten years of marketing experience. He recently worked as a Communications Manager at a nonprofit in Southern Oregon. Luis has a Bachelor of Science in Innovation and Leadership from Southern Oregon University and is currently attending graduate school through SOU’s MBA Program. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Luis and his wife recently moved to Austin in 2021 with their puppy Milo. They enjoy exploring the food, culture, art, diversity, and music that ATX offers.
Mayra Grossman – Executive Assistant
Caroline & Annie Yoder – Graphic and Web Management Contractors
Carrie (left) helps with El Buen’s graphic design and web management needs. After graduating from Bluffton University with a degree in Art and Education, she spent 5 years running a travel site with her husband, visiting 63 countries as they traveled full time. While she and her husband slowed down and sold their site to an Austin-based company in 2019, she still considers herself semi-nomadic and often takes her work on the road.
Annie (right) works alongside her twin sister, Carrie, facilitating El Buen’s graphic design and web management needs. Annie graduated from Bluffton University with a degree in Music and a minor in Peace & Conflict studies. Since then she has worked in rolls that have helped her build her management, web and design skills. These include serving in AmeriCorps for a community development non-profit, working in the box office for Kansas City Symphony, and managing a yoga studio in Wooster OH.
Operations
Antonio Cruz– Facilities Manager
Maria Gomez – Administrative Assistant
Maria assists the Director of Finance & Operations. Prior to this role, she was El Buen’s receptionist for ten years and worked directly with clients to provide helpful resources and customer support. She continues to provide support to the front desk, allowing her to maintain the relationships she has built with students, volunteers and food pantry clients over the years. Maria grew up in southern Wisconsin, spending time outdoors fishing and camping with family. Her outdoor adventures continue with her husband and two sons, and they enjoy fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, snowboarding and even attend MLB, NFL & NBA games together.
Lillian Acosta – Operations Manager
Gloria Sigala– Custodial Day Porter
Gloria has been with El Buen for four years and has over 17 years’ experience in the cleaning industry. Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, she is the second daughter of a family of five children. She enjoys her job and being able to serve the community. Her pride and joy are her children and grandchildren, and she has been happily married for 35 years.
Education
Isabel Bernal– Education Program Manager
Isabel manages El Buen’s Family Literacy programs which include adult ESL, computer literacy, basic education classes and youth programs. Prior to this role, she coordinated the Digital Literacy program. Originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, Isabel was raised in Austin and became a U.S. citizen in 2011. She received her associate degree in applied science from ITT Technical Institute and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ashford University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. Isabel began her nonprofit career as an AmeriCorps member working with families and children in the PALS program, where she realized her passion for nonprofit work focused on family education. She is a wife and mother of three beautiful children and spends her spare time with her family and working as a professional photographer.
Fernanda Rivera – Lead Youth Development Coordinator
Fernanda works with our youth in the Afterschool and Summer Camp Programs. She is currently finishing up her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Texas State University. Having grown up in the Latin community in Houston, she believes it is her purpose to better assist kids within this underserved population. Her future plans include getting a master’s degree in Student Affairs and eventually getting to teach abroad.
Elizabeth Rodriguez – Youth Development Coordinator
Elizabeth is a Youth Development Coordinator for the 4th-5th grade group. Elizabeth is a first-generation University Graduate earning her Bachelor of Social Work from Texas State University. Elizabeth has a passion for advocacy and has experience working with disenfranchised groups. Her experience in the field ranges from hospice care as a volunteer to interning at a women’s shelter as a legal advocate. Her experience has enabled her to become a proponent in validating others and advocating for self-care. When not advocating or working to support others, Elizabeth spends her time with her family, friends, and cats. She loves to garden and collect new plants for her collection.
Gerardo Martinez – Youth Development Coordinator
Gerardo is a Youth Development Coordinator who oversees the 6th-7th grade group. Gerardo is a first-generation college graduate. He has earned an Associates of Social Work from San Antonio college and has earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Texas State University. Gerardo has been working in the non-profit sector for over five years in multiple capacities. His experience ranges from working with underserved populations to meet their needs to supporting families and children in resolving issues. He is constantly seeking out new ways to empower others. Gerardo has a passion working with children and families. He hopes to one day to open a non-profit organization of his own.
Nick Avendano – Assistant Adult Education Coordinator
Mary Ellen Alsobrook – Adult Education Coordinator
Food Access
Juan Rosa– Food Pantry and Community Garden Manager
Juan supervises our community health workers and is the instructor for El Buen’s Community Health Worker Leadership Institute. He has coordinated community outreach programs at El Buen for 12 years, has been a certified community health worker (CHW) since 2013 and has been certified to train CHWs since 2016. Born and raised in El Salvador, Juan found his calling for helping others when he experienced firsthand the hardships many of El Buen’s clients face after he became a client himself. He pulls from his experience with migrant farm worker communities when facilitating health classes in the community. Juan enjoys teaching others about healthy living, playing soccer, watching documentaries and traveling with his family.
Rosa Carroll– Basic Needs Coordinator
Rosa coordinates all activities for El Buen’s access to food programs, including the food pantry and community garden. Originally from Michoacan, Mexico, she moved to the U.S. in the 1980s. Rosa first came to El Buen as an ESL student, then started volunteering and eventually working part-time as a Promotora de Salud (community health worker) teaching Comenzando Bien, prenatal classes and cooking classes around Austin. In 2007 she became El Buen’s Basic Needs Coordinator. Rosa enjoys promoting healthy choices and nutrition education to food pantry clients. In her free time, she enjoys seeing live music and spending time with family and friends.
Health Access and Promotion
Sage Harrison – Project Manager
Sage helps to coordinate El Buen’s Health Access & Promotion services. She also coordinates El Buen’s Financial and Rental Assistance programs. Originally from a tiny rural town in New Jersey, she moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas. After graduation, she served a term of AmeriCorps working with the nonprofit Literacy First as a Reading Tutor in an elementary school. There she realized that she not only had a passion for teaching but also for the exchange of knowledge. She loves learning new things and sharing her knowledge with other people. At El Buen, she uses her English and Spanish skills to engage and motivate students and volunteers. Her favorite hobbies include practicing yoga, enjoying the sunshine and traveling to new places any chance she gets.
Andrea Cosme – Bilingual Community Health Navigator
Andrea is a bilingual Community Health Navigator. She helps with health services and financial assistance at El Buen. She is a college graduate from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Psychology and minor in Family and Child Development. She is a current college student working to further her education in Pre-Health Sciences. Andrea is passionate about advocating for mental health awareness, physical health, and helping others to the best of her ability. She enjoys going to the gym with her friends, hanging out with her family, and simply being in nature.
Milton Lopez – Bilingual Community Health Navigator
Marisol Reyes– Bilingual Community Health Navigator
Marisol serves as a bilingual Community Health Navigator and provides support to the community through El Buen’s programs and services. She is currently going to school for her Bachelor of Public Administration. Marisol began her nonprofit career as a Social Services Coordinator at Central Texas Food Bank. Her passion is helping community members. Born and raised in Austin, she loves spending time with her family outdoors.
Maria Solis – Bilingual Community Health Navigator
Anita Swayze– Bilingual Community Health Navigator
Anita serves El Buen’s Women’s Health Program, educating women about reproductive health and family planning. She is a native Texan originally from the Rio Grande Valley. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Pathology and Special Education for Early Childhood from Sam Houston State University and began her career in public health at UT Southwestern Medical School’s Division of Maternal Health and Family Planning as a Health Educator. Since relocating to Austin, Anita has consulted on college campus-based HIV/STI education programs and served as a trainer and consultant to STD Public Health Follow Up programs in Texas.