Meet Our Team
Angela Ramirez (she/her)
Executive Director
A native of Colombia, Angela completed her law and business administration (MBA) studies in Bogota where she also worked with marginalized communities for over a decade...
Julie Gamze-Elçin (she/her)
Escalera Program Manager
Julie is the Escalera Program Manager with Puentes. She has lived in New Orleans for 10 years, and during the last several years has worked with youth and students in spaces centering education programs...
Cristina Martinez Istillarte (she/her)
LUNA Program Manager
Cristina Martinez Istillarte, originally from Spain, has been part of the New Orleans community for over 5 years. Cristina earned a bachelor’s degree in Translation and Intercultural Communication in Spain,
Alejandra Maria Barreto (she/her)
Communications & Outreach
Alejandra Barreto is originally from Los Angeles, CA but has been a part of the New Orleans community since 2022 when she started at Tulane University as a Posse Scholar. She is currently studying Public Health and Spanish with a minor in Psychology. She has worked and volunteered in several Latinx-focused nonprofits in California and is currently involved in the Center of Academic Equity at Tulane while overseeing the communications and image of Puentes.