Our Vision
By 2030 we will be well-known for creating educational experiences that reach at least twice as many people as we do today. We will stand together to lead, act and inspire change in our communities to help build a more just and peaceful world.
John Lozano Board Chair/President
Term ending 2022
Mr. Lozano is currently a Resource Specialist and teacher in the Moreland School District in the Bay Area of Northern California. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a minor in philosophy from Humboldt State University. He holds a master’s degree in education from Harvard University, where he focused on administration, planning and social policy. Mr. Lozano has spent thirty years in public education, as a teacher and administrator, working in a variety of settings and with students of all income and ability levels.
He has been involved in CISV since 2013 as a leader, local leader trainer, program staff, and the San Francisco Chapter President. Mr. Lozano enjoys the experiential learning component used during local and international activities, which make CISV a unique experience. These experiences keep Mr. Lozano coming back for more programs as he continues to inspire more young adults.
Louise Harty
Term ending 2023
Elected to the board in 2017, Louise has been a member of the Finance and Organization Development committees. She is currently serving as the Finance Committee Chair and Treasurer. Introduced to CISV in 2005 as a Village parent, Louise became an active member of the Philadelphia chapter, including two years as board president. After a move to Jacksonville in 2009, she immediately joined the board and served as the treasurer. She currently lives in Las Cruces, NM with her husband Leland and they have three grown children.
Mario Hidalgo
Term ending 2022
Mario Hidalgo is a multicultural leader, working for several years in the travel industry. He holds a global position at Egencia, an Expedia Group company, overseeing the relationship with entities in 40 countries across all continents. Mario holds an MBA on International Commerce from Alma Mater university in Costa Rica.
A member of the Board of Directors since 2019, Mario is a founder member of the CISV Miami Florida Chapter; he serves as Board member of the chapter with the role of Fundraising Coordinator. He also is a certified Risk Manager and also served as Trustee.
Born and raised in Costa Rica, studied at a German school, 15 years living in the USA and working for global companies, provide Mario with a unique global perspective. He currently lives in Miami, Florida.
Hana Strickland
Term ending 2022
Hana Strickland is a Senior Buyer, specializing in project management and working for several years in corporate retail. Currently, she is working for Walmart eCommerce as the Category Manager of Upholstered Furniture. Hana is a graduate of The Ohio State University, double majoring in Political Science and International Studies with a minor in Spanish. A member of the Board of Directors since 2019, Hana previously served as the International Junior Representative of CISV International. Currently, she serves on the Education and Organizational Development Committees of the board. Prior to her term as IJR, she also served on the International Junior Branch Team, as National Junior Representative of CISV USA, one term on the National Youth Committee, and as the Local Junior Representative of the Cincinnati Chapter. Actively involved with CISV since 2001, Hana has attended, staffed, and directed programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Jonkoping, Sweden; Quito, Ecuador; Cincinnati, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; and Bogota, Colombia. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Hana currently resides in New York City.
Sean Brooks
Term ending 2023
Sean works for a biotech startup that has developed oncology diagnostics for companion animals. His professional experience includes general management and operations roles in the pay-TV and animal health industries and management consulting for U.S. military and private sector clients.
Sean earned his MBA with concentrations in Business Analytics and Operations Management from the University of Maryland and is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he majored in Anthropology and International Peace Studies.
Sean grew up in Pennsylvania and participated in the Waterloo, Canada “Imagine” Village in 1993 through the Philadelphia Chapter. His lifelong curiosity and appreciation for learning more about people and cultures was cultivated tremendously by this experience. Sean is committed to support CISV’s mission, to engage and learn from its community of dedicated volunteers and supporters, and to participate actively in shaping the future of the organization. He currently serves on the Board’s Development, Organizational Development, and Finance Committees.
Sean, his wife, and their children reside in Howard County, Maryland.
Joleen Firek
Term ending 2023
Joleen is a renowned Communications Expert with two Emmy Awards and a vast portfolio of experience. Her areas of practice include Advertising Marketing & Media, Emerging & Advanced Global Technologies, Formal Education, and Retail Training. She is currently involved in multiple entrepreneurial ventures, including Producer of global conferences and Managing Partner importing/distributing COVID-19 antibody tests and tailor-made brandable face masks.
Having been entrenched in CISV since a very young age, Joleen always gravitated toward news and world events and seeing others’ perspectives. She loves telling stories everyone will relate to and building collaborative teams for complex projects. She has field produced for ABC Nightly News, created multiple TV shows for children/teens, taught/facilitated within multiple educational systems, and travelled the world for business including helping launch Lincoln in China.
After years of exposure to CISV as a girl with older siblings in exchange programs, Joleen attended Village in The Philippines, exchanged with Mexico, and was the only US participant at Seminar Camp in Portugal. As an adult, she has always remained active within her Detroit Chapter, plus she has served multiple times on CISV’s national board, previously as PR Chairperson.
Joleen gives major credit to CISV for actively shaping the way she sees the world and interacts with others. She is honored to be on the Board during this pivotal time in history helping shape CISV’s future within such a challenging pandemic.
Valerie Maurais
Term Ending 2024
Valerie is a retired high school Family and Consumer Science teacher of 19 years. She is presently working with elderly clients with home assistance. She has been a member of the Maine Chapter since 1989. She served in several board positions including being the president for 5 years. She directed and staffed 12 villages along with serving as a National Trainer for 5 years. Her national involvement continued as the National Village Chair to her most recent position as National Program Coordinator.
Valerie lives in Old Town Maine with her husband Owen and they have four grown children and one grandchild.
Melissa Donohue
Term Ending 2024
Melissa Donohue, Ed.D. is a financial education expert with extensive experience in curriculum design, research, and teaching across several multimedia formats including online, text, and classroom. She is a frequent speaker and writer on all aspects of financial literacy, wealth education, and economic empowerment. Melissa is the author of the book Financial Nutrition for Young Women: How (and Why) to Teach Girls About Money, a 2018 recipient of the Independent Publisher Book Award. She is the founder of Financial Nutrition, an organization focused on girls’ and women’s financial education and economic empowerment. Melissa was formerly the head of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s Family Wealth Education program, the winner of the 2017 MMI/Barron’s Industry Award for Investor Education. She has a Master’s Degree from Columbia University and a Doctoral Degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Melissa has been involved in CISV since 2010 as a parent and a Board Member of both the Springfield and New York chapters. She currently serves as the Chair of the Education Committee of the National Board, and is looking forward to working with all CISV members to strengthen the organization as the world comes back together.
Jude Albukhari
Term Ending 2024
Jude Albukhari is a psychologist currently working with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. Her professional experience while obtaining her doctorate degree in psychology has allowed her the privilege of working with children, adolescents, and families from all walks of life.
Born and raised in Amman, Jordan, Jude’s first taste of CISV came as an 11-year-old Jordanian delegate attending a Village in Darmstadt, Germany. Since then, Jude has joined two different National Associations, participated in several international programs, and taken on various roles, including National Leadership Trainer and JB Advisor. Jude became a founding member and President of CISV Southern California before leaving the warmth of SoCal to move to the East Coast. Jude is excited to join the Board and actively work towards upholding CISV’s mission, particularly within the context of important societal issues, including accessibility, diversity, and equity.