Board of Directors

Ashley Nance

Board Chair

Ashley Nance is a Denver native and a proud graduate of Denver Public Schools entering her 16th year in education as a third grade bilingual teacher at Johnson Elementary in Southwest Denver.  Ashley has held many roles with DPS as a paraprofessional, a parent & family liaison, an instructional coach & evaluator, and a classroom teacher.  Upon obtaining a B.A. in Modern Languages with an emphasis in Spanish, a minor in Chicano Studies, and a certificate in Spanish Translation and Interpretation from Metropolitan State University of Denver, she traveled to Honduras where she taught literature at a secondary school.  This experience ignited her passion for teaching and prompted her pursuit of an M.A. in Human Development & Family Studies from CU Denver. These educational and professional experiences have deepened her understanding of the transformative power of bilingualism and biliteracy and their lifelong impact in an increasingly global world.  Ashley shares the following testimonio: "I am honored to serve on the Executive Board of Directors for Project Recuerdo and to re-engage with the vision of Ms. López, whom I previously had the privilege of working alongside at Eagleton Elementary. Through that experience, I witnessed firsthand the project's power to challenge traditional power structures and counter systems of oppression in our schools while creating more meaningful learning experiences for students. I believe that integrating family histories, lived experiences, and community knowledge into classroom content can transform instruction and create curriculum shaped by and for the children and families in our classrooms. It also provides an opportunity to authentically document the histories of our Latine communities. I look forward to contributing my experience as an educator, deep connection to Denver, and commitment to bilingualism, biliteracy, family engagement, and educational transformation to a project with tremendous potential to positively impact students and their communities."

Nelia Peña

Board Chair

​

​Nelia Peña is a doctoral candidate in Equity, Bilingualism, and Biliteracy in the School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research focuses on humanizing approaches to instruction for racialized bilingual learners. Some of these approaches include student-centered conversations, translanguaging, cariño, and attention to emotions and affect. She also has over a decade of teaching experience at the elementary and college levels focused on supporting bilingual learners. 

Cynthia Gallegos

Treasurer

Cynthia Gallegos, brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership, financial stewardship, and community engagement experience to the organization’s founding Board of Directors.  Cynthia understands the importance of preserving the stories, sacrifices, traditions, and values that connect generations. A Colorado native, she has dedicated her career to strengthening communities through philanthropy, organizational leadership, and cross-sector collaboration. She has led nonprofit operations, strengthened financial systems, secured grant funding, and built partnerships with foundations, government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and community-based nonprofits.

She believes that generational wealth is most sustainably built when knowledge is shared early and equitably, creating stronger starting lines through access to education and opportunity.  As a founding member of the Latinas Give Denver Giving Circle, she commits to advancing community philanthropy and long-term investment in Latino communities across Colorado. 

Cynthia believes every family story has the power to strengthen identity, foster belonging, and inspire future generations. She is honored to serve as Treasurer of Project Recuerdo and support its mission of preserving family stories, celebrating cultural heritage, and building a strong foundation for generations to come.

Andrea Renteria

Director-at-Large

My name is Andrea Renteria, and I am a Principal in the Denver Public Schools as well as a Denver native and DPS alumni. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Mexican-American Studies and Teaching English as a Second Language. When my passion drew me back towards education I returned to school at the University of Denver where I received my Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and endorsements in both Special Education and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education. After falling in love with teaching at various schools in DPS, I decided to become a school leader which led me to my current position serving students and families in the historic Globeville neighborhood. I believe in Project Recuerdo and the power it has to bring together students, staff and community as we uplift the voices and stories of our families to ultimately impact the growth and achievement of our students.

Michelle Lopez

Founder and CEO

​

Michelle is a proud Denver native, community member, mother and educator of more than 25 years.  Her experience with Denver Public Schools began as a paraprofessional, extended as a primary and intermediate teacher to currently serving as a bilingual literacy interventionist.  She is grateful to the inspiring leaders and professors of the BUENO Center at CU Boulder where she earned her M.A. in Educational Equity and Cultural Diversity, became a biliteracy specialist and developed Project Recuerdo.  She feels honored to be a guardian of the powerful stories that are shared through Project Recuerdo and feels passionately that every human has a story, and every story deserves to be heard and learned from.  She hopes for all students to access their family testimonios as mirrors that reflect inner beauty and strength.

Dr. Deena Gumina

Director-at-Large

Dr. Deena Gumina is an Associate Teaching Professor in Equity, Bilingualism and Biliteracy in the School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder. She works in the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLD) component of the Elementary Education Major at CU. Her undergraduate and master’s level courses focus on Family and Community Engagement, Educational Policy, Language Acquisition,
Biliteracy, and Language Development. She frequently collaborates with the BUENO Center to provide professional learning on culturally and linguistically sustaining practices for K-12 practicing teachers and leaders. Gumina’s research interests include family and community engagement, bilingual education,
teacher education and advocacy, and educational policy.  Outside of work, Deena is often outside mountain biking, trail running or skiing with her Labrador Howard, her daughters Elia and Clara, and her husband Frank.