Cristina Hernandez
Founder & Executive Director
is the Founder and Executive Director of the Roots Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit expanding access to high-quality bilingual international education in underserved communities. Through the Foundation, she led the creation of an international bilingual middle and high school in the rural coastal community of Lo de Marcos, Nayarit, bringing world-class educational opportunities closer to home for local families.
Cristina earned her B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and holds a Global MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management and Tecnológico de Monterrey. Since 2014, she has been a professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, teaching international business and cross-cultural leadership. She is also the founder of Managed Strategies International, where she has spent over 15 years helping global companies expand throughout Latin America.
Earlier in her career, she served with the British Embassy's Department for International Trade and led the State of Utah Trade and Investment Office in Mexico.
Originally from Santa Ana, California, Cristina has lived in Mexico since 2008 and is passionate about creating educational opportunities that empower students, strengthen communities, and prepare the next generation of global leaders.
Email: [email protected]
Cristina earned her B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and holds a Global MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management and Tecnológico de Monterrey. Since 2014, she has been a professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, teaching international business and cross-cultural leadership. She is also the founder of Managed Strategies International, where she has spent over 15 years helping global companies expand throughout Latin America.
Earlier in her career, she served with the British Embassy's Department for International Trade and led the State of Utah Trade and Investment Office in Mexico.
Originally from Santa Ana, California, Cristina has lived in Mexico since 2008 and is passionate about creating educational opportunities that empower students, strengthen communities, and prepare the next generation of global leaders.
Email: [email protected]
Erica Carlisle
Treasurer
Erica Carlisle is the Roots Foundation treasurer, and is part of the founding board. she worked for 15 years as a management and strategy consultant, primarily with healthcare companies while at BCG. She worked with product teams to create marketing strategies, with senior leaders to determine how to organize their companies, and with finance teams evaluating new business opportunities. She helped managers develop strategic plans and execute large, complex projects. In her last position, she was a partner and member of the board of the firm, supervising a team of 70 consultants. In addition, Erica worked in a biotechnology start-up for 3.5 years, in operations and R&D. She managed a team of over 75 scientists and engineers, and designed and operated business processes to enable growth.
Erica has a PhD in social and cognitive psychology from Princeton University, where she conducted research on how people make decisions. She also has an MBA from MIT Sloan, where she focused on finance and international business.
Erica has lived and/or worked in many counties, including Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Switzerland, the UK, India, and Mexico. She served as the Parents Association Treasurer for Costa Verde International School, Sayulita, during the 2023-2024 academic year.
Jen Irish: Donation & Gift Coordinator
Is part of the Treasurer team and supports Roots Foundation with receiving donations and administrating grants.
Email: [email protected]
Erica has a PhD in social and cognitive psychology from Princeton University, where she conducted research on how people make decisions. She also has an MBA from MIT Sloan, where she focused on finance and international business.
Erica has lived and/or worked in many counties, including Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Switzerland, the UK, India, and Mexico. She served as the Parents Association Treasurer for Costa Verde International School, Sayulita, during the 2023-2024 academic year.
Jen Irish: Donation & Gift Coordinator
Is part of the Treasurer team and supports Roots Foundation with receiving donations and administrating grants.
Email: [email protected]
Molly Fisher
Vice President & A.C. Advisor
Molly Fisher is on the board of directors for Roots foundation. She is the Director of the Indiana University (IU) Mexico Gateway Office, serving Latin America and the Caribbean. She is an accomplished educator and social entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience working in the education sector as well as in workforce and economic empowerment, environmental program development, and animal welfare. Prior to joining the IU Global team in 2019, she led the educational portfolio at the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at UC San Diego where she collaborated with multiple universities and the private sector to develop and implement a suite of workforce development pilots focused on STEM and language acquisition. As an area specialist in Mexico, she has founded, directed, or redirected eight successful nonprofits and social enterprises across the country. Molly brings extensive experience working with students, parents, teachers, universities, and both the public and private sectors into her role as the Director of the IU Mexico Gateway.
Molly is an Indiana University graduate with a B.S. in Biology and a graduate certificate in Secondary Science Education and spent five years teaching in the classroom on both sides of the U.S. - Mexico border.
Email: [email protected]
Molly is an Indiana University graduate with a B.S. in Biology and a graduate certificate in Secondary Science Education and spent five years teaching in the classroom on both sides of the U.S. - Mexico border.
Email: [email protected]
Ana Partida
Board of Advisors
Is an advisor for Roots Foundation and is a faculty member of the Department of International Business at the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Campus Guadalajara.
Professor Partida Has a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University with a focus on International Business. In her current position, Professor Partida is the coordinator of the Concentration in Customs Consulting and Foreign Trade (CACE) open to all campus students. Professor Partida was the leader of 14 international trade missions in 1998, 2005, 2006, 2010-2016, 2022, 20223 and 2024 to South America, China, France, the U.K., Germany, and E.E.U.U. and Canada.
She has been an international business consultant to over 100 Mexican and US companies working with more than 280 students. Professor Partida has worked with the business incubator at Campus Guadalajara, along with Incubator at Northern Arizona University and Incubator at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College. Besides, she has done market research for the Chateau Fonchereau, a Mexican vineyard located in Bordeaux, France.
Professor Partida is a founding partner at TCG Consulting Group. In this position, she advises USA, Chinese, European, and Mexican Companies on how to import or export into the Mexican market, specifically to find commercial and Investment partners to expand their sales. Her experience in multiple sectors as IT sector, veterinary products, and sustainable energy, but more in consumer products, specifically in the food and beverage industry.
Ana acts as out liaison between Tecnologico de Monterrey and Roots foundation projects.
Professor Partida Has a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University with a focus on International Business. In her current position, Professor Partida is the coordinator of the Concentration in Customs Consulting and Foreign Trade (CACE) open to all campus students. Professor Partida was the leader of 14 international trade missions in 1998, 2005, 2006, 2010-2016, 2022, 20223 and 2024 to South America, China, France, the U.K., Germany, and E.E.U.U. and Canada.
She has been an international business consultant to over 100 Mexican and US companies working with more than 280 students. Professor Partida has worked with the business incubator at Campus Guadalajara, along with Incubator at Northern Arizona University and Incubator at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College. Besides, she has done market research for the Chateau Fonchereau, a Mexican vineyard located in Bordeaux, France.
Professor Partida is a founding partner at TCG Consulting Group. In this position, she advises USA, Chinese, European, and Mexican Companies on how to import or export into the Mexican market, specifically to find commercial and Investment partners to expand their sales. Her experience in multiple sectors as IT sector, veterinary products, and sustainable energy, but more in consumer products, specifically in the food and beverage industry.
Ana acts as out liaison between Tecnologico de Monterrey and Roots foundation projects.
Jack Waite
Board of Advisors
is a nonprofit consultant and founder of GoBridge Global, supporting organizations in fundraising, strategy, and cross-border partnerships. Based in Mexico City, he brings experience in nonprofit leadership, public policy, and international education, along with a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Texas at Austin. Jack has supported ROOTS Foundation’s scholarship fundraising and serves on its U.S. Board of Directors, helping expand access to bilingual education for students in Riviera Nayarit.
Gina Segura
Board of Advisors
Gina Segura was part of the project's start-up committee. Despite studying Financial Administration, her passion is in education and teaching. Originally from Mexico City, she worked at Colegio Edron as an assistant in the International Baccalaureate department and taught science classes. In 2012, she moved to Tepic Nayarit where she worked at Colegio Ciencias y Letras as a math teacher. In 2014, she was hired by Colegio Internacional Costa Verde to create the English tutoring program. Five years later, she became a mother and together with her husband founded La Mexicana Spanish School, a school where the teaching of Spanish is combined with the richness of our Mexican culture.
Erika Ramirez Gamero
Director & Interim Principal, Roots International Academy, Board of Advisors
Serves as our Principal and Interim Director at the Academy. She is a bilingual educational leader with more than 20 years of experience in teaching, school administration, and academic leadership across preschool, elementary, secondary, and higher education. She holds a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and School Management and has successfully led the academic and administrative operations of a bilingual international school, overseeing faculty, curriculum implementation, compliance with Mexico's Ministry of Education (SEP), and school-wide strategic planning. Erika also led her previous school's successful COGNIA international accreditation, demonstrating her commitment to educational excellence and continuous improvement.
Throughout her career, Erika has been deeply committed to building learning communities that prioritize student well-being, critical thinking, and holistic education. She has also served as an online tutor and trainer for the British Council, supporting the professional development of English language educators through internationally recognized certification programs. Her expertise spans bilingual education, teacher development, curriculum implementation, organizational leadership, and educational quality assurance. Firmly convinced of the transformative power of education, Erika has dedicated her career to creating meaningful impact in both individuals and their communities by fostering inclusive, collaborative, and student-centered learning environments. For the past 11 years, she has been an active member of the Sayulita community, helping strengthen educational opportunities throughout the region. Erika is leading the next chapter of our mission to expand access to high-quality bilingual international education for all our students.
For more information about the Academy
Phone: +52 322 111 1820
Email: Erika@rootsfoundation.mx
Throughout her career, Erika has been deeply committed to building learning communities that prioritize student well-being, critical thinking, and holistic education. She has also served as an online tutor and trainer for the British Council, supporting the professional development of English language educators through internationally recognized certification programs. Her expertise spans bilingual education, teacher development, curriculum implementation, organizational leadership, and educational quality assurance. Firmly convinced of the transformative power of education, Erika has dedicated her career to creating meaningful impact in both individuals and their communities by fostering inclusive, collaborative, and student-centered learning environments. For the past 11 years, she has been an active member of the Sayulita community, helping strengthen educational opportunities throughout the region. Erika is leading the next chapter of our mission to expand access to high-quality bilingual international education for all our students.
For more information about the Academy
Phone: +52 322 111 1820
Email: Erika@rootsfoundation.mx
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-Margaret Mead
