Staff
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Young, Josh
he/him
College-Wide Director
Contact Information:
305-237-7477
jyoung@mdc.eduJosh Young has helped lead service-learning, civic engagement and community-campus partnerships with Miami Dade College since 1994. He has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Virginia and master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Administration from Florida State University. He served two tours with the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa and Paraguay, South America, and he ran summer community service programs for youth for four summers in the Dominican Republic with Visions International. Josh has been a national service-learning mentor with the American Association of Community Colleges and has extensive experience leading workshops for faculty, students, community partners, and administrators around the nation.
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Adam, Dominique
she/her
Director of Kendall Campus
Contact Information:
305-237-0631
dadam@mdc.eduDominique Adam is a purpose-driven, affiliative leader who passionately seeks to close the gap on disparities through empowering and engaging individuals as well as communities. During her formative years in New York and Haiti, Dominique witnessed resilience, perseverance, and creativity in the face of poverty, lack of access, and social injustice, which ignited her journey to be a part of the greater good. She earned both a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and Latin American & Caribbean studies and a Master’s in Public Administration and Policy from Florida State University. At FSU, Dominique served in several leadership capacities within Student Government, the Black Student Union, and the Caribbean Student Association and helped build coalition among student organizations across Florida as President of the Haitian Cultural Club. Dominique served as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Borough President of Brooklyn and Director of Community Outreach at Maimonides Medical Center, and later worked at Palm Beach State College.
Energized to be the change, Dominique is eager to apply her 15+ years of experience advancing awareness and maximizing access, prosperity, and advocacy for diverse populations across public, private, and non-profit sectors to contribute to the continued growth of communities, faculty, and students by way of activating civic participation and activism at MDC.
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Alexandre, Eli
he/him
AmeriCorps VISTA, Community-Campus Partnerships Coordinator
Contact Information:
305-237-3833
ealexan2@mdc.eduElinord "Eli" Alexandre is a proud native of Miami. He is of mixed heritage whose father hails from Haiti and his mother from the United States. He has an AA degree in criminal justice from New Mexico Military Institute. In addition, he holds a bachelor's degree in political science from The George Washington University. In his free time, he enjoys watching reruns of Criminal Minds and Beat Bobby Flay. During his undergraduate studies he took a class called Sociological Imagination that included a service-learning experience in which he worked with a non-profit that provided direct services in the arts to low-income youth. This experience sparked a passion for working with at-risk youth and low- income communities. He looks forward to helping MDC build and strengthen community-campus partnerships during his year of service with AmeriCorps VISTA and the iCED department.
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Juarez, Elizabeth
she/her
Coordinator of Kendall Campus
Contact Information:
305-237-2692
ejuarez@mdc.eduElizabeth Juarez is a Chicago native who is passionate about civic engagement and advocating for foster care youth. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from DePaul University, where she focused on International studies and specialized in Latin American studies. While completing her degree, she traveled to Cuba to research the Arab influence within the Cuban diaspora. Shortly after completing her degree Elizabeth joined AmeriCorps, dedicating time to supporting survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence.This experience led her to pursue an AS in Paralegal Studies at MDCto gain a greater understanding of the law to influence political change. As a student at MDC, she was awarded the Civic Leadership Award because of her continued efforts to positively impact the Miami community. In Elizabeth's free time, she serves as a panel member helping youth within the foster care system.
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Levin, Linda
she/her
Coordinator of Homestead Campus
Contact Information:
305-237-5205
llevin@mdc.eduLinda Levin has been the Homestead Campus iCED Coordinator since 2015. She has more than 30 years of experience working with non-profit organizations and educational institutions in the areas of leadership training and development, recruitment, and board management. Prior to MDC, Linda served as the Membership and Outreach Coordinator at Temple Israel of Greater Miami, and worked extensively with college students at the University of Miami, both at the Hillel Jewish Student Center and in the Department of Residence Life. Linda is passionate about working with college students to promote service-learning and community outreach, and particularly enjoys assisting students in career exploration. Linda earned a Master Degree in Higher Education Administration from Indiana University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan.
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Lopez, Lilyana
she/her
AmeriCorpsVISTA, Civic Leadership Fellows Coordinator
Contact Information:
305-237-3117
clf@mdc.eduLilyana Lopez, hailing from Chicago, IL, is a recent graduate of Roosevelt University with a bachelor's degree in International Studies and a minor in Hispanic Studies. With a strong passion for social justice and community development, she eagerly joins AmeriCorpsVISTA and MDC, excited to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Lilyana's journey has been shaped by a series of diverse experiences, each contributing to her advocacy and leadership skills. As a canvasser with Leaders Igniting Transformation, she devoted herself to increasing voting and civic engagement in low-income communities, recognizing the significance of grassroots efforts in driving positive change. Her certificate in International Service-Learning provided her with the invaluable opportunity to work with orphans in Costa Rica, instilling in her a deep sense of empathy and a strong desire to support vulnerable populations. In addition to this, Lilyana's involvement in campaign management with Freedom Forward allowed her to spearhead and oversee political campaigns dedicated to critical issues such as human rights, environmental preservation, and anti-corruption measures. Armed with these experiences and a compassionate heart, she embarks on her AmeriCorpsVISTA service in Miami, aiming to leave a lasting legacy of empowerment and progress in the communities she serves.
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Moody, Lakayla
she/her
Coordinator of North Campus
Contact Information:
305-237-8358
lmoody1@mdc.eduLakayla Moody is a Miami native who loves engaging with young people and encouraging them to be more civically engaged.She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University and double majored in Digital Media Productions and Creative Writing. Lakayla has always had a passion for helping others, creating films, and bringing people’s stories to life. She also enjoys giving back to her community, caring for animals, and learning about ways to live more sustainably. Before joining the iCED team, she worked at Breakthrough Miami and Solutions Skills. In these roles, she taught social science, helped high schoolstudents with SAT and ACT prep, taught film production, and much more! Lakayla is excited to join the team and expand her horizons by continuing to do things she loves and taking part in more changemaking initiatives.
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Mutis, Kiki
she/her
Director of Wolfson Campus
Contact Information:
305-237-7470
cmutis@mdc.eduKiki Mutis was born in Colombia and has lived in Miami since 1981. She is an MDC alumna, and later earned an MS in Environmental Science from FIU. Kiki served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia where she focused on soil and natural resource conservation and youth development. She has been an active board member of The Colombia Project Global, a micro-loan organization, and traveled to Colombia to meet program administrators and visit micro-loan recipients to understand their concerns better. Kiki worked for Citizens for a Better South Florida where she helped organize urban forestry projects and hands-on afterschool science programs. She also worked at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden as the Community Outreach Coordinator, and with Pelican Harbor Seabird Station where she was the Operations and Volunteer Manager. She also has led professional development workshops for the Earth Ethics Institute at MDC for many years.
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Pershadsingh, Priya
she/her
Coordinator of Wolfson Campus
Contact Information:
305-237-3163
ppershad@mdc.eduPriya Pershadsingh is a Miami native with a proud Indian heritage. Priya is an MDC alumna who graduated in 2017 with the intention to continue her studies in mass communication. However, in 2016, she attended an MDC-led Eco-Tourism and Sustainability trip to Huatulco, Mexico and her love for sustainability flourished. Priya transferred to the University of Florida (UF) and attained a bachelor degree in Sustainability Studies. She continued with her education and received a master's degree at UF in Sustainable Development Practice (MDP) with a minor in Nonprofit Organizational Leadership, a specialization in Gender and Development and a certificate in Tropical Conservation and Development. Priya's dedication and passion to giving back to her community now continues through her work at MDC with iCED, where she is excited to join the effort to support students and faculty at Miami Dade College to become changemakers.
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Rodriguez, Alejandra "A.J."
they/them
AmeriCorps VISTA, Civic Leadership Fellow Coordinator
Contact Information:
305-237-3117
arodri67@mdc.eduA.J. was born and raised in Miami, Fl. Initially pursuing a career in film, they majored and graduated in Television and Film production at Miami Dade College. Switching up career paths led them to pursue a marketing degree in a university in a small town in northern Florida, where they realized they were homesick all along. Now A.J. is back home to serve their community at the very same institution that initially allowed them to pursue a degree in their passion. Today, A.J. enjoys thrift shopping and watching cheesy movies with their partner and friends and comes home every day to their adorable leopard gecko, Ilah. Their VISTA year will be dedicated to creating and launching a pilot Civic Leadership Fellows program in MDC’s Institute for Civic Engagement & Democracy that places service-oriented students with non-profit partners to create a generation of civically engaged youth.
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Soto, Ana Maria
she/her
Director of Medical and West Campus
Contact Information:
305-237-8960
asoto6@mdc.eduAna Maria Soto is passionate about helping students reach for their dreams, especially getting an education. Ana Maria provided multicultural programming, mentoring, and fellowship opportunities to Latino students at National Louis University and Columbia College Chicago, and has significant experience with nonprofit and community organizations including AARP, the Close Up Foundation and MALDEF. Ana Maria grew up in Ecuador and El Salvador. After college she worked in Brazil and Spain. She has a BA from the University of the South, an MA from Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain, and an MBA from National Louis University. In 2004, Soto was a National Hispana Leadership Institute Fellow. She loves travel, photography, cooking, technology, and social media.
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Sudduth, Christina
she/her
Director of Hialeah and Padrón Campuses
Contact Information:
305-237-7411
csudduth@mdc.eduChristina Sudduth moved from Oregon to Miami in 2010 to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at Padrón Campus of all places (then called InterAmerican Campus)! She served for two years supporting faculty and students to deepen their connection to service-learning and going beyond the walls of the classroom. Since that first turn at MDC, she went on to earn her Master's in Public Health degree at the University of South Florida and continued her passion for advocacy work with a statewide nonprofit organization focused on the federal child nutrition programs for six years. Later, she worked with an initiative at the University of Miami to support early childhood teachers integrate supportive practices for the learning and development of children with disabilities. She has served in many coalitions and leadership roles throughout the Miami-Dade community over the years and is thrilled to return to iCED with its current mission and vision. She comes with over a decade of experience in the nonprofit and higher education space, and now, she is flexing her entrepreneurial muscle as she builds her own company called Path To Integration. She is a personal empowerment coach with a passion for working with individuals and groups as they increase awareness and appreciation for their full self-expression and courageous commitment to a life they love.
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Venereo, Amanda
she/her
Program Professional, Padrón Campus
Contact Information:
305-237-6734
avenere1@mdc.eduAmanda Venereo was born and raised in Miami. She attended Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida before transferring to the University of Florida (UF), where sheearned her B.A. in International Studies with a regional focus in the Middle East along with a minor in Arabic Language. Go Gators! Currently, Amanda is pursuing her M.A. in Global Affairs at Florida International University. Before joining the iCED team at MDC, Amanda taught English to international students at the English Language Program at UF and was an active member of the Gator Salsa Club. Besides her involvement within the Gainesville community, Amanda has fed her passion for cultural diversity by participating in overseas opportunities with the US State Department. Amanda worked as a Youth Ambassador with the USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai and also traveled to South Korea as a US Delegate with the Republic of Korea National Assembly Exchange Program in Summer 2022. Amanda is a proud Cuban-American and is always eager to share her Miami culture with the world. In her free time, you can find Amanda listening to music, reading a book, or dancing Casino salsa with her family.
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Villalobos, Maria
she/her
Director of North Campus
Contact Information:
305-237-8380
mvillal1@mdc.eduMaria Villalobos was born and raised in Maracaibo, Venezuela and moved to Florida at the age of 10. She received her Bachelor degree in Psychology from FSU and her Master of Science in College Student Personnel Administration from Illinois State University. While at FSU, she found her passion for social justice and service and became heavily involved with the Center for Leadership and Social Change, the SGA and the Hispanic/Latino Student Union. Maria is extremely passionate about education equity and ensuring that all students receive a high-quality education. Prior to MDC, she was a Teach For America AmeriCorps member in Miami-Dade, an elementary school teacher in Redwood City, California, and the Character and Leadership Development Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. She has also worked at the university level at both Illinois State University and FIU, and is happiest when she gets to interact with students and engage in conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion. Maria is excited to be part of the MDC iCED family and continue to support students to become changemakers in their communities and beyond.