NLT Leadership – Sigma Lambda Upsilon

Meet the National Leadership Team! Our sorority is led by a group of alumnae who are elected to lead the organization at our annual National Leadership Institute in June. Made up of an executive board, a board of operations, and seven regional directors, these 20 women run the day-to-day operations of the sorority with varying degrees of responsibility, and serve as points of contact for our Hermanas.

In addition, our Board of Trustees (BOT) is comprised of Hermanas who have been members of our sorority for 10-25 years. These women aim to set forth a vision and develop a strategic plan for years to come, providing opportunities to advance the organization. Through “listening tours”, our members are given an opportunity to speak with the Board of Trustees about the health and wellness of the organization. Our National Policy and Compliance Board (NPCB) consists of Hermanas who ensure all members operate in accordance with the national policies of the sorority.

Executive Board

SOLJANE MARTINEZ

PRESIDENT

ABOUT

Dr. Soljane Martinez serves as President of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. A higher education leader based in New England, she brings over 25 years of experience advancing equity and belonging across journalism, K–12, and higher education. A proud Hermana of the Delta Chapter since Spring ’95, she leads initiatives in inclusive excellence and social justice and teaches culturally responsive practices, combining leadership, creativity, and civic-centered practice. Outside of SLU, she enjoys being a mom of two college-aged children, Latin dancing with her husband, outdoor and nature adventures, and experiencing diverse cultures through food, music, and language.

YESENIA GARCIA-FORTUNA

VICE PRESIDENT OF

REGIONAL OPERATIONS

ABOUT

Yesenia Garcia-Fortuna is a nonprofit leader with almost 20 years of experience advancing college access, persistence, and opportunity for young people. She currently serves as Executive Director of Summer Search New York City, leading a regional organization supporting students through mentoring, leadership development, and career exploration. A first-generation college graduate and proud New Yorker, she is passionate about developing leaders, building strong teams, and creating opportunities for communities to thrive. Yesenia has been an Hermana since Spring 2007, she joined at our Alpha Delta Chapter located at Stony Brook University.

DAISY TORRES-BAEZ

VICE PRESIDENT OF

ADMINISTRATION

ABOUT

COMING SOON!

LUZ BURGOS - LÓPEZ

VICE PRESIDENT OF GROWTH

ABOUT

Luz helped found an SLU Chapter at Wesleyan University and, after two years of hard work, pledged in Fall 2007. She joined the Dean of Students Office in 2017 after serving as Assistant Dean of Students at Goucher College and previously held leadership roles at Vassar College and as Director of Expansion for Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc.

Luz holds an M.S. in Counselor Education from CCSU and a B.A. in African American Studies from Wesleyan University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Learning, Leadership, and Education Policy at the University of Connecticut.

AMY ESCALANTE

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE

ABOUT

Amy is a Spring 2022 initiate of the Invincible Iota Chapter at Cornell University and Ithaca College. She served as Chapter President and Multicultural Greek Council Vice President of Finance and President. At BCG in Houston, Amy is an Associate and former Growing Future Leaders participant and Summer Associate. Her experience spans strategy, organizational and cost transformations, digital venture exploration, operations, and logistics. She holds a Cornell B.S. in Applied Economics and Management, concentrated in International Trade and Development, and a South Texas College A.A. in Business Administration. She remains committed to diversity, community relations, and the Hermandad.

Regional Directors

FLOR SILVESTRE REYES

REGION 1 DIRECTOR

ABOUT

Flor Saldivar Silvestre currently serves as the Regional Director for Region 1 for Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. Additionally, she also serves as the Director of Retention for our sorority’s philanthropy, the LADYS Cville Mentorship Program.

She is an Immigrant Social Justice Advocate based in Buffalo, New York. As a proud Hermana of the Omicron Chapter, Flor Saldivar Silvestre has been a member since Spring 2017. In her professional life, she is a full-time immigration paralegal and a part-time organizer with a local nonprofit fighting for immigrant justice.

Outside of SLU, she enjoys a good comedy show or doing all sorts of arts and crafts.

HEIDI PEÑA

REGION 2 DIRECTOR

ABOUT

Heidi (she/her) is a Kappa Line Hermana of the Alpha Kappa Chapter of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Incorporated and a bilingual Spanish/English Community Educator based in Queens. Brooklyn-born and island-raised, she is an Afro-Dominican facilitator dedicated to empowering youth through education, building social capital, and community healing. Her work also includes training with the Center for Racial Justice in Education, community organizing, and poetry.

DANIELA ALVAREZ

REGION 3 DIRECTOR

ABOUT

Daniela earned a B.A. in Political Science and Latino/Latin American Studies and an MPA from the University of Connecticut, where she joined the Alpha Omicron Chapter in Spring 2020. Daniela is an Educational Consultant focused on equity, student success, and inclusive learning environments. Her experience includes coaching educators, advancing culturally responsive curriculum, managing grants and programming, working with youth leadership groups, and planning large-scale conferences focused on dismantling systemic racism. She’s committed to collaborative leadership, community engagement, and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Daniela also enjoys concerts, travel, trying new foods, and time with her beagle, Tobi.

JENNIFER VILLALOBOS

REGION 4 CO-DIRECTOR

ABOUT

BIO COMING SOON!

VACANT

REGION 6 DIRECTOR

ABOUT

BIO COMING SOON!

OPEN

REGION 6 DIRECTOR

ABOUT

MINERVA MARTINEZ ACOSTA

REGION 4 CO-DIRECTOR

ABOUT

Minerva pledged Fall 2023 at the AdmiRable Alpha Rho Chapter. She graduated in Spring 2024 with an American Studies and Spanish double major. Recently, Minerva has started her higher education master’s program, returning to the University of Virginia this past summer. Currently, she is interning at the Darden Business School with the Office of Community and Connection. She’s set to graduate in May 2027! If I’m not doing school, work or SLU you can find me binging any good TV show or documentary, journaling and coloring.

CRISTAL VALDEZ

REGION 7 DIRECTOR

ABOUT

BIO COMING SOON!

VANESSA NOYOLA

REGION 5 DIRECTOR

ABOUT

BIO COMING SOON!

SUPPORT TEAM

CHRISSY TORRES-CARABALLO

REGIONAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

ABOUT

BIO COMING SOON!

NATHALIE DE LOS SANTOS FORBES

TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR

ABOUT

BIO COMING SOON!

DEANNA GUZMAN

ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

ABOUT

Hermana Deanna, Spring 2025 Theta Theta GPC, currently serves as the Administration Coordinator. She received her B.S. from the US Air Force Academy and will earn her Ph.D in Clinical Psychology from Uniformed Services University this upcoming spring. She’s currently serving as a Psychology Resident in a military hospital in the Midwest before her licensure. She loves to cook, go for walks, and do yoga! She values health in all forms and loves to show up for herself everyday. She looks forward to continued growth within the Hermandad’s leadership teams and as an early career psychologist.

JANYSSI PABON

COORDINATOR OF MEMBERSHIP INTAKE

ABOUT

Janyssi Rivera serves as Coordinator of Membership Intake for Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. and has been a proud Alpha Lambda Chapter Hermana since Spring 2020. Based in New Jersey, she is an Anatomic Pathology Resolutions Representative and key liaison for resolving critical and complex issues involving tissue and cell samples. Her work requires precision, clear documentation, and careful management of urgent concerns. Outside of work and SLU, Janyssi enjoys reading, films and series, crafting, and other creative pursuits.

MARIELY TAVERAS

FINANCE COORDINATOR

ABOUT

BIO COMING SOON!

OPERATIONS TEAM

CHRISSY TORRES-CARABALLO

REGIONAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

ABOUT

Dioseline Jimenez Diaz currently serves as Region V Director in the Midwest for Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. She is a Payroll Coordinator at NCW based in Indianapolis, Indiana. As a proud Hermana of the Alpha Upsilon Chapter, Dioseline has been a member since Spring 2020.
In her professional life, she is known for identifying missing pieces and reviewing large-scale compliance projects. Her growth has been driven through curiosity by asking the right questions and creating more efficient ways to search, document and process data.
Outside of SLU, she enjoys dancing, strolling with her husky/pit, and being a sister and mentor for her younger sibling through the Pathfinder-Club Ministries.

NATHALIE DE LOS SANTOS FORBES

TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR

ABOUT

BIO COMING SOON!

JACQUELINE VEGA

ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

ABOUT

Jacqueline Vega currently serves as an Administration Coordinator for Sigma Lambda Upsilon/ Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. She is a public health professional based in New Jersey. As a proud Hermana of the Lambda Chapter , Jackie has been an Hermana since Fall 2015. In her professional life, she is a communicable disease investigator. Outside of SLU, she enjoys gardening, crocheting, and spending time outdoors with her dog, Mika.

JACQUELINE VEGA

ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

ABOUT

JANYSSI PABON

COORDINATOR OF MEMBERSHIP INTAKE

ABOUT

ALINA FELICES

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY

ABOUT

Alina pledged at Farmingdale State College’s Alpha Sigma Chapter on the Alpha line, where studying Communications sparked her love for storytelling and laid the foundation for her career. After years in education and administration, she entered the field in 2022 and now serves as Director of Communications for a New York City Council Member.

Outside of work, she loves to sing and is passionate about introspection, connection, and personal growth, values that have long felt at home in this beloved Hermandad. She looks forward to serving, learning, and contributing to SLU Hasta la Muerte.

JENNIFER GRAY

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP INTAKE

ABOUT

Jennifer Gray currently serves as the Director of Membership Intake for Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. In her 14+ years of membership, she has remained actively involved in the sorority and recently joined the National Leadership Team to serve in a larger capacity.

Jennifer is employed at the Anxiety Institute as the Manager of Business Operations. In this role, she oversees new client and employee onboarding, supports the development and refinement of streamlined operational processes, and manages clinical and operational technologies across the organization.

ROSANN SANTOS

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNAE AFFAIRS

ABOUT

With over 25 years of distinguished experience in higher education, Rosann is the Director of Alumni Engagement at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in NYC. She also owns her own coaching and consulting business that helps individuals and teams understand their leadership and communication styles and capabilities. As a founding Hermana of the Eta Chapter (Syracuse University), she worked with the chapter to secure the first scholarship endowment in the Organization’s history and the first endowment by a Latina Sorority at Syracuse University.

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING

ABOUT

BIO COMING SOON!