Cristina Hernandez
Founder
Is the President of the Roots Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to expanding access to high-quality international education in Nayarit. Recognizing the growing demand for bilingual private schools but the limited capacity in the region, she established the foundation to partner with schools and create opportunities for more local students in Northern Bahia de Banderas, Nayarit. Cristina holds a Global MBA from Thunderbird and Tecnológico de Monterrey and has been a professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Guadalajara, since 2014. She has made significant contributions to the field of international business both within the university and as a consultant for global companies.
Through her consulting firm, Managed Strategies, she has led numerous market entry projects and supported the university’s online international collaboration initiatives. She has taught a wide range of courses, including "Doing Business in Mexico," "Cross-Cultural Communications," and "International Marketing."Prior to her academic career, she worked for the British Embassy in the Department of International Trade in Guadalajara and was appointed by the governor of Utah to lead the state’s trade and investment office in Mexico. Cristina grew up in Santa Ana, California.
Email: [email protected]
Through her consulting firm, Managed Strategies, she has led numerous market entry projects and supported the university’s online international collaboration initiatives. She has taught a wide range of courses, including "Doing Business in Mexico," "Cross-Cultural Communications," and "International Marketing."Prior to her academic career, she worked for the British Embassy in the Department of International Trade in Guadalajara and was appointed by the governor of Utah to lead the state’s trade and investment office in Mexico. Cristina grew up in Santa Ana, California.
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 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]
Ana Partida
Member, Board of Directors
Ana Cecilia Partida is our advisor for the School project 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.
Gina Segura
Member, Board of Directors (A.C.)
Gina Segura is 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.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Jean Paul
Member, Board of Directors (Advisor)
Jean Paul is on the start up committee for the project and is an architect He has been assisting with the project as an advisor. He is from Tepic but his family has lived in Sayulita for many years.
Our School Partner
Lily Ehlebracht
Instituto Internacional Founder
Lily is a passionate educator and visionary leader in the field of international education. Founder of EdVentures International (Asociación Civil) and CEO of the International Institute in Chapala, Lily has dedicated her career to promoting quality education. With a Master's degree in International Education and Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, another in K-12 Education from Capella University, and a Bachelor's degree in Music with a focus on Education from the University of California at Berkeley, Lily recognized the potential of Chapala's bright students and their worthiness to shine. Driven by this conviction, she established a high-quality educational institution that offers elementary, middle, and high school programs, thus giving local students the opportunity to fully develop their potential and excel in a world-class educational environment.
Lily strongly believes in the importance of the arts in the educational curriculum, and personally directs the strings program at the International Institute. Under her leadership, the institution also has strong Fine Arts and Dance programs, reflecting her commitment to a well-rounded education that nurtures both the intellect and creativity of students. Lily was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and has lived in Chapala, Jalisco since 2011.
Lily strongly believes in the importance of the arts in the educational curriculum, and personally directs the strings program at the International Institute. Under her leadership, the institution also has strong Fine Arts and Dance programs, reflecting her commitment to a well-rounded education that nurtures both the intellect and creativity of students. Lily was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and has lived in Chapala, Jalisco since 2011.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed
individuals can change the world. In fact,
it's the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead
individuals can change the world. In fact,
it's the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead
