Who we are and What we believe

Dr. Pallares is an Adventure Capitalist with over 20 years of experience building innovation ecosystems. He is a professor at New Mexico State University and serves as Chairman of the Sun Cruces Angels, bringing deep expertise in ecosystem strategy and startup development to STTE's leadership.

Stephanie is the Executive Director of both 1881 Ventures and Sun Cruces Angels, where she operates at the intersection of philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and capital formation in the Borderland region. A seasoned professional fundraiser, Stephanie has supported more than 62 nonprofits in expanding and sustaining their operating budgets, helping mission-driven organizations scale their impact with strategic funding approaches.

Cory is a seasoned technology leader who served as Chief Revenue Officer at Firework and Director of Sales & Marketing at Snapchat, helping scale it from startup to a multibillion-dollar enterprise. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Peking University Guanghua School and Cal Poly Orfalea College of Business.

Jack is a historian of technology, startup founder, and co-president of the Texas Chapter of Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs. He is a co-founder of Initiate: Digital Rights in Society, advocating for proactive AI governance, and holds fellowships from Oxford, Yale, and Harvard. He currently serves on the El Paso ISD Board of Trustees.

Noah brings over 20 years of experience in education, technology, and professional services. He has held finance, operations, and strategic planning leadership roles across nonprofit, private, and public companies, with a deep commitment to closing inequity gaps in education systems.

Kathryn Hansen serves as Director of Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University, with extensive experience managing large-scale technology development contracts for both the private and public sectors. She brings deep expertise in program management and business development to the board.

Mica holds an MPA and a BA in Political Science from UT El Paso. As VP of Development at the Paso del Norte Foundation, she collaborates with regional stakeholders to improve health, education, and quality of life. She previously served as Executive Vice President of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce.

Alysha is the Director of Community Outreach & Special Programs and former Executive Director of Insights Science Discovery. She has a proven track record in workforce development and youth programming, with a steadfast passion for serving young people through purpose-driven opportunities.