Esperanza Velásquez

Miembro Bio:

As co-founder of the Mississippi Hispanic Association (MHA), Mrs. Velásquez served as the first MHA president and a Board Member for five years (1995-2000). Mrs. Velásquez currently serves as Chair of the Board and as fund-raiser for the “Run to the Latin Beat” 5K 2016.

Mrs. Velásquez is from Colombia, South America, where she attained a Bachelor’s degree in Languages, emphasis in Spanish, and taught Spanish for many years before she moved to Mississippi in 1982. She has an Associate’s degree from Hinds Community College (HCC) in Programming and Data Processing; a Master’s degree from Jackson State University (JSU) in Education, emphasis in Spanish; and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree at JSU in Early Childhood Education, emphasis in reading. Mrs. Velásquez taught at HCC from 1987 to 1993 as an adjunct instructor. In 1987, she became the first director of the Foreign Language Center at JSU. Since 1993, Mrs. Velásquez has been a Spanish instructor at JSU.

Mrs. Velásquez is married, has three daughters and four granddaughters. She draws from her experience and the knowledge she has gained as an immigrant to contribute to the well-being of the Hispanic community in Mississippi. Mrs. Velásquez strongly argues that “education is the most effective tool by which to climb the social, economic, and political ladder, especially for us immigrants.” On October 23, 2005, Mrs. Velásquez was presented with the “Woman of the Year” award by the Minority and Small Business Development Division for her dedication to the community.

Elsa Baughman

Miembro Bio:

Elsa Baughman, a co-founder of the Mississippi Hispanic Association, is currently the secretary of MHA. She was born in Venezuela and has been living in the United States since 1976. She received a master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Southern Mississippi and a B.A. in journalism from the University of Zulia in Venezuela. Currently she works as Spanish editor of Mississippi Catholic, the newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson where she began working in 1996. She also is a freelance interpreter and translator for several national companies. She is married and has two daughters.

Victoria Scantlebury

Miembro Bio:

Victoria ha sido miembro de la d Asociación Hispana de Misisipi desde sus inicios.  Ha servido en varios cargos incluyendo Presidente, Coordinadora de Actividades Infantiles para el Festival Latino, y también ha sido bailarina y coreógrafa del grupo folclórico de la Asociación.  Victoria nació en la República de Panamá, y ha estado viviendo en Misisipi por mas de 20 anos.  Es profesoras de español en Jackson Public Schools y Profesora Adjunta de Español en Jackson State University.  En 1997 Victoria se graduó de Jackson State University con un B.S. en Psicología y un minor en Lenguas Extranjeras, y en el 2001 con una maestría en Educción Secundaria con una concentración en español.  También tiene una Certificacion para ensenar ingles como segunda lengua (ESL) de Mississippi College.

Karla Velez

Miembro Bio:

Karla is currently the Vice-president of MHA and has been a member of the Association since 2010. She was born in Manta, Ecuador and moved to the United States in 2000. She serves as an Associate HR Service Partner at the Office of International Services with the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She received a B.A. in Homeland Security Studies from Tulane University.

Alejandro Banda

Miembro Bio:

Alejandro ingresó a la Asociación Hispana de Mississippi en el 2011. Nació en la Ciudad de México y ha estado viviendo en Mississippi desde el año 2008. Obtuvo sus títulos de médico veterinario y de maestro en ciencias veterinarias en la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), y su doctorado en microbiología médica en la Universidad de Georgia. Actualmente, Alejandro se desempeña como profesor en la Universidad Estatal de Mississippi.

Elsa Baughman

Miembro Bio:

Elsa Baughman, a co-founder of the Mississippi Hispanic Association, is currently the secretary of MHA. She was born in Venezuela and has been living in the United States since 1976. She received a master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Southern Mississippi and a B.A. in journalism from the University of Zulia in Venezuela. Currently she works as Spanish editor of Mississippi Catholic, the newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson where she began working in 1996. She also is a freelance interpreter and translator for several national companies. She is married and has two daughters.

Marta Charria

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Angela McRae

Miembro Bio:

Angela has been a member of the MHA since its inception and has been fundamental in the branding of MHA. In previous years, Angela has been responsible for MHA’s Public Relations and has worked as the Arts & Crafts Director for various events and past Festivals Latino. Currently, Angela is the Event Director for the upcoming 5K scheduled for September 2016. Angela was born in Colombia and has been living in Mississippi since the age of eight. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 2000 with a B.S. in Fine Arts emphasis in Graphic Design. Currently, Angela is the Creative Marketing Specialist at Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company®.

Jeffrey McRae

Member Bio:

Jeffrey is responsible for administration of the MHA website. He is a 1996 graduate of Mississippi State University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He has been working for Michael Baker International for almost 20 years and is currently the Senior Bridge Engineer in the Ridgeland, MS office. He is married to Angela McRae and they have two daughters, Sofia and Lucia.