Our Team
Adriana Schellhaas
Executive Director
A Mexican-American born and raised in the border town of El Paso, Texas, Adriana began volunteering with Casa Chirilagua as an interpreter and mentor in 2011, then joined the staff in 2012. As Executive Director she helps bridge the gap between our families, students, staff, volunteers, churches and school partners. She holds a Bachelors in Theater Arts.
Marissa Salgado
Programs Director
A California native now on the East Coast, Marissa provides support to the programs team and works to connect Casa’s community partners with our programming. She joined the staff in 2016 and is passionate about walking alongside our families as they develop as leaders. She holds a bachelors degree in International Affairs with a Public Health concentration from George Washington University.
Liz Wang
Community Development Director
Liz recently moved to Virginia from Guadalajara, Mexico, and joined Casa Chirilagua in September 2017. She has worked to support human rights internationally and is now dedicated to promoting a positive community and strong social bonds within the local community.
Diana Segovia
Elementary Programs Director
Diana’s first connection with Casa Chirilagua was as a Kids Club student when she was just 8 years old. After being the first in her family to receive a high school diploma, she is also now the first to attend college, studying to receive her bachelor’s degree in education. Diana grew up in Chirilagua and has a passion for working with children. She is proud to be a part of Casa Chirilagua which she says has been a haven to many in the community.
Rebeca Gore
Teen Programs Director
Rebeca grew up in DC and has a passion for youth, ministry, and community development. She brings her experiences as a teacher, AmeriCorp and Peace Corps member to the table along with a love for the Latino community. She holds a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Public Health and Hispanic Studies from the College of William and Mary.
Jose Martinez
Mentoring Director
As a first generation Salvadorean-American, Jose was raised in the Northern Virginia area. He has attended Northern Virginia Community College and currently attends George Mason University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science. Jose believes that positive influences help shape perspectives. He facilitates this by matching youth in the Chirilagua neighborhood to adult mentors while building relationships with families, volunteers and schools.
Matthew Gillette
Volunteer Coordinator
A Virginia native who ended up in Alexandria for an internship in the summer of 2013. He started volunteering with Casa Chirilagua in 2014, joining staff in 2019. He describes himself as a neighbor, friend, missionary, practitioner, ordained minister, social activist, community organizer, and hopeful social entrepreneur. He lives with his wife Abby in the Lynnhaven Neighborhood of Alexandria.
Jon Paramore
Development Director
Lauren Wallace
Business Manager
Lauren lived in New Orleans, LA for 20 years before relocating back to Arlington, VA with her husband and family. She joined our staff part time in May 2019 bringing years of experience as a controller for several small family owned companies. She holds a Masters degree in Business Administration and a Bachelors degree in Accounting.
Juan Martínez
Communications Director
Juan moved to the US in 2017 from El Salvador, where he was born and raised. He has worked in the communications and media area for different Christian organizations. He is passionate about listening to and communicating stories of communities to promote healing and justice. He holds a Bachelor in Architecture from Universidad Albert Einstein in El Salvador and a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Cailey Cummins
Mentoring Program Coordinator
Cailey relocated to Northern Virginia in January of 2021 to join Casa’s team through the AmeriCorp VISTA program. She is passionate about community-driven change and was called to Casa’s rootedness in the Chirilagua neighborhood. As the Mentoring Program Coordinator, Cailey works to enhance and grow the mentoring program through capacity building projects. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with minors in Spanish and social innovation from Dickinson College.
Fabiola Nogales
Local Leader
As a second-generation Bolivian-American, Fabiola was raised in Alexandria, VA. She has graduated from Thomas Edison High School and currently attends Northern Virginia Community College. She plans to transfer to George Mason University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Community Health. Fabiola aspires to make a long-term impact on children by providing guidance and support. She enjoys working with children and working alongside the community to help make a positive change.
Irma Valle
Local Leader
As a first generation Honduran-American, Irma has lived in Chirilagua her whole life and started participating in Casa Chirilagua through Bible Study. She will be a freshman at Northern Virginia Community College and plans to pursue a bachelors in Social Work. She is excited to start working as a Local Leader and hopes to make a positive impact in her neighborhood.
Keren Moreno
Local Leader
Keren was born in Honduras then came to the U.S. at 14 years of age. She settled within Alexandria, VA eventually graduating from Alexandria City High School. Keren is familiar with navigating the public school system as the first in her family to graduate high school in the U.S. She has a heart for serving others and reflects empathy in her work. This is shown through her work in providing financial relief to families in need through the Emergency Relief Program.
Cindi Villanueva
Local Leader
A first-generation Salvadorean American, Cindi was raised in Alexandria. She graduated from T.C. Williams High School. Cindi is the first in her family to attend college and is a freshman at Northern Virginia Community College studying English. She yearns to serve the community and make a difference in the students’ lives. Cindi is passionate about creating a safe space for students hoping to be someone exemplar in their lives by fully embracing them.
Board Members
Lisa Treviño Cummins
Board Chair
Founder and President, Urban Strategies
Adriana Gómez Schellhaas
President
Executive Director, Casa Chirilagua
Angela Zabler
Board Member
Economist, US Coast Guard
Campbell Vogel
Development Committee Chair
Fundraising and Development Consultant
Ryan Wismer
Board Member
Security Director, Chemonics International
Fredy Hernandez
Strategic Direction Committee Chair
Economist, US Coast Guard
Kristopher Klaich
Board Member
Associate, Booz Allen Hamilton
Connor Smith
Finance Committee Chair
Engineer, Clark Construction Group, LLC
Get Involved
Our relational network of volunteers and donors reflects a diverse group of individuals from all over the Washington, D.C. metro area. As a non-profit, we rely on the community for assisting program directors on-site, being mentors, supplying the needs of our food pantry, and everything in between. Each member of our Casa community holds a unique gift, whether time, talent or treasure.