2026 South Texas Summit Speaker Bios
Diana Almaguer, PhD
Diana has served, since 2019, as the Regional Director for Common Thread, a program under the Human Trafficking Interdiction Division with BCFS Health and Human Services. Common Thread is a program whose mission is to connect with Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth through relational advocacy, intensive case management and peer support. In this role, she oversees the direct delivery of services of human trafficking survivors in 13 counties under the Rio Grande Valley region.
Matthew L. Atterberry, EdD
Matthew was born on February 18, 1974, in Bronx, New York. He is the son of Rebecca Atterberry and the late Lloyd Atterberry. He was raised in Denmark, South Carolina where he graduated from Denmark-Olar High School in 1992 3rd in his class. Matthew went on to earn three degrees despite his being undiagnosed with Autism from elementary school through doctoral school. The degrees Matthew earned are as follows: Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education 1997 Benedict College Columbia, South Carolina, Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling 2007 South Carolina State University Orangeburg, South Carolina, and Doctorate Degree in Curriculum & Instruction with a Higher Education Specialization Concentration 2020 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Since August 15, 2022, Dr. Atterberry has served at Valley Association Independent Living in a multitude of roles. He has served as Public Healthcare Instructor, Employment Readiness Instructor, Mobility Instructor, and now he is Peer & Transition Services Counselor. Yes, Dr. Atterberry has no shame in disclosing that he has Autism Spectrum Disorder Level I Higher Functioning (once known as Aspergers Syndrome), and the diagnosis occurred two years after earning his doctoral degree. His mission is to inspire people who have disabilities so that they can obtain fair gainful employment and/or go pursue higher education and educate the RGV on accessibility importance for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and Students with Disabilities (SWD). On October 29, 2024, Dr. Atterberry served as a TEDx McAllen speaker at STC Pecan Campus. His topic was Flipping and Rewriting the Script: Discovering Autism Beyond the Label.
Flor D. Avellaneda, Ph.D., MSW
Flor is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She was previously a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute at the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work. Her research integrates prevention science and community-engaged approaches to address intersectional barriers affecting women and girls, with a particular focus on sexual health disparities and intimate partner violence. Dr. Avellaneda earned her MSW from the Baylor University Diana R. Garland School of Social Work and her Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Before her doctoral training, she held leadership and advocacy roles in Waco, Texas, including work with Communities in Schools, AVANCE-Waco, and the Family Abuse Center. Her binational dissertation examined links between intimate partner violence, physical and mental health, and substance use among Mexican women in the United States and Mexico. In 2023, she received a Diversity Supplement from the National Institutes of Health to study interpersonal violence among young women at risk of substance-exposed pregnancy.
Jen Biundo, MPAff, CPH
Jen is the Senior Director of Policy and Research for Healthy Futures of Texas, where she works to support access to sexual health information and services for Texas youth. A registered lobbyist and seasoned public policy professional with a research background, Jen earned her master’s degree in Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, and holds a Certification in Public Health through the National Board of Public Health Examiners. She’s the proud mother of two school-aged boys, including a high schooler who kind of wishes his mom had a normal job that didn’t involve sex education
Darius Buggs, CHW, CHW-I
Darius is a Training Manager at Healthy Futures of Texas specializing in Evidence-Based Programs, where he delivers training and technical assistance to both professionals and community-based organizations. With 20+ years of experience in program management, sex education, and facilitation, he has contributed to Tier 1 B TPP projects and the Texas is Ready program. For the past 9 years, Darius has also led the Askable Adult Training and Workshops, dedicated to equipping caring adults with the tools to better support young people on their sexual health journey.
Elias Cantu, CHW-I
Elias Cantu earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Brownsville. Currently, he serves as a trainer for the Capacity & Development department at VAC Westbrook Clinic as a Co-Facilitator for the Project ECHO program with the AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) as well as a trainer for the Cultivate program with AIDS United. Mr. Cantu leads the HIV Peer Mentor program research study with Gilead Sciences in collaboration with Boston University. He is also a Co-Author for the “AHORA Study: A Real-World Mixed-Methods Study Investigating the Effectiveness of, and Experiences with, Rapid ART Initiation in People Living with Advanced HIV in the Rio Grande Valley.” He also serves as the Community Principal Investigator for the research study titled, “Stigma and Social Support Among HIV+ Latinx LGBTQ+ Individuals and Their Families in South Texas” in collaboration with Dr. Luiz Alvarez Hernandez from Boston University which was recently presented at the National Latinx Psychological Association (NLPA) conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Marina Cazares, MS, CHES
Marina is a Program Coordinator at Healthy Futures of Texas, where she supports the delivery of evidence-based sexual health education to young people across the Rio Grande Valley. With a background in parent education and early childhood development, Marina brings a strong commitment to community engagement and accessible sexual health education and resources. She holds a Master of Science in Health Professions Education and Technology from UTRGV and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Marina is passionate about empowering young people, supporting families, and creating supportive spaces for learning. Her work centers on sexual health, parent education, and positive youth development—ensuring that all young people have the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their health.
Alyssa Chavarrilla
Alyssa is a Status-Neutral Navigator with Valley AIDS Council in the Rio Grande Valley where she has dedicated the past five years to supporting individuals and communities through compassionate, accessible health services. Alyssa has focused on STI and HIV testing, helping promote awareness, prevention, and early detection through educating the community, about practicing safer sex barriers, creating welcoming, judgement-free spaces, where everyone feels comfortable accessing testing and care in her South Texas community.
Cally Conklin, JD
Cally joined Crime Stoppers in January 2023 as a Statewide Education Specialist and now serves as the Senior Statewide Education Specialist. She is passionate about using crime prevention and safety awareness programming to educate students ages kindergarten through high school, school staff, parents, and community members across the state of Texas. In addition, Cally continues to support the growing needs of the Crime Stoppers Safe School Institute as it expands statewide. A native of Dripping Springs, Texas, she graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a BA in English and from Texas A&M University School of Law.
Jenny Davalos, LVN, ACPLN, FPHW
Jenny is a healthcare professional with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare field, including 10 years as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and 16 years as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). She is also an AIDS Certified Licensed Practical Nurse (ACPLN) and a certified Family Planning Healthcare Worker (FPHW), with extensive experience in reproductive and sexual health services. Jenny currently serves as the Family Planning Administrator at the Valley AIDS Council/Westbrook Clinic in the Rio Grande Valley. She serves in leadership roles with Every Body Texas, including Vice-Chair of the Provider Committee, member of the Medical Committee, and member of the Board of Directors. She is also involved with the Texas Youth Action Network through Texas A&M University, where she helps develop youth-adult partnerships and promotes positive youth development activities that incorporate the perspectives of young people in her community. Jenny has dedicated herself to raising sexual and reproductive health awareness for the Border communities that she serves and to provide compassionate, empathetic and adequate health care services para su gente and to all Texas for many years to come.
Lucas Enrique Espinoza, PhD, CHW, CHW-I
Lucas Enrique Espinoza is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and the Assistant Director of Faculty Advocacy for the Office for Advocacy & Violence Prevention to which he provides direct campus-based advocacy services to faculty and staff at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He teaches in the undergraduate criminal justice program, the undergraduate social justice minor program, and the graduate criminal justice program. Lucas earned his Ph.D. in Sociology with concentrations in Social Organization/Disorganization and Multicultural Women’s & Gender Studies from Texas Woman’s University. His area of research specialization is on violence and resistance, particularly intimate partner violence (IPV), historical violence/resistance (e.g., human trafficking, raids, revolutions, etc.), and education/pedagogy (e.g., praxis) for criminal justice students. He researches Mexican American/Latina/Hispanic women who experience IPV, gender issues (i.e., sexuality, and reproductive justice/access), social justice/human rights, and law enforcement culture.
Luis Enrique Espinoza, PhD, MPH, MCHES, CPH, CHW, CHW-I
Luis is currently is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi where also serves as the Program Coordinator of Public Health and currently teaches courses in the Bachelor’s of Science and Master of Public Health programs, and several undergraduate healthcare administration courses. Dr. Espinoza earned his Ph.D. in sociology with concentrations in social stratification and health education & promotion from Texas Woman’s University. He also holds an MPH in Epidemiology from The University of North Texas Health Science Center. Additionally, he holds credentials as a master certified health education specialist (MCHES®), is certified in public health (CPH), a community health worker (CHW), a community health worker instructor (CHW-I), a mental health first aider, and a mental health first aid instructor. Moreover, he also serves as an item writer for the CPH exam and the new certified in disease intervention exam. Dr. Espinoza’s research directly focus on sexual & reproductive health, violence & victimization, and health access & disaster response.
Jackie Joy Ho-Shing, MAEd, CHW
Jackie has served as an educator and advocate in South Texas for 10+ years, focusing on enabling youth to access sexual reproductive healthcare through education. She is involved in creating, organizing, and delivering community presentations on various reproductive health topics provided by Access Esperanza Clinics. Jackie Joy’s dedication extends to addressing the intersectionality of race, nationality, gender, sexuality, housing stability, and other elements of individuals’ identities that may not receive adequate recognition or support. She is currently pursuing a master’s in education with a concentration in Diversity, Equity & Social Justice in Education at UTEP.
Denise Lewis, CHW, CHW-I
Denise is a Training Manager at Healthy Futures of Texas where she provides training and technical assistance on sexual health education and related topics to Health Educators, Youth Serving Adults, Caregivers, and Community Organizations. Her work also includes developing standardized training for Healthy Futures of Texas and community partners. During her professional career, Denise has been trained as a facilitator and certified as a trainer, in various sex education curricula, of which she has implemented amongst students and adults. Over the years, she has enhanced and spearheaded youth development programs and contributed towards curriculum development.
Dora A. Martinez, MD, AAHIVS, FAAFP
Dora is an accomplished Family Physician and Certified HIV Specialist passionate about HIV care and prevention. She holds a deeply rooted dedication to education and advocacy and is known for her inspiring approach with patients and colleagues. As a clinician practicing for over 15 years in the Rio Grande Valley, near the Texas-Mexico border, Dora was excited to use ViiV’s innovative products in her practice’s unique and underserved population. Her patients included those with late presentation/advanced HIV, multidrug-resistant HIV, chronic low CD4, and HIV with multiple comorbidities, and she served adult, pediatric, pregnant, Hispanic/Latinx, and uninsured populations. Dora’s experience with these patients was a powerful motivator to expand her reach as a ViiV Regional Medical Director. At ViiV, Dora is grateful for the opportunity to contribute first-hand to help improve HIV care, research, and advocacy for all people living with HIV.
Armando Molina, CHW-I
Armando is an accomplished Family Physician and Certified HIV Specialist passionate about HIV care and prevention. She holds a deeply rooted dedication to education and advocacy and is known for her inspiring approach with patients and colleagues. As a clinician practicing for over 15 years in the Rio Grande Valley, near the Texas-Mexico border, Dora was excited to use ViiV’s innovative products in her practice’s unique and underserved population. Her patients included those with late presentation/advanced HIV, multidrug-resistant HIV, chronic low CD4, and HIV with multiple comorbidities, and she served adult, pediatric, pregnant, Hispanic/Latinx, and uninsured populations. Dora’s experience with these patients was a powerful motivator to expand her reach as a ViiV Regional Medical Director. At ViiV, Dora is grateful for the opportunity to contribute first-hand to help improve HIV care, research, and advocacy for all people living with HIV.
Jessica Hope Murph, LMFT-S
Jessica is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor and founder of Beyond Boundaries Counseling RGV. She has worked in mental health since 2016, serving youth, families, and underserved communities throughout South Texas in community mental health, substance use programs, court-involved services, and private practice. Her work is person-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and affirming, with a strong commitment to creating spaces where people can show up as their whole selves without judgment or having to hide parts of who they are. Jess believes mental health care should be inclusive and accessible across differences in identity, culture, ability, sexuality, relationships, beliefs, and lived experience, and is passionate about making mental health information practical and useful for the people and communities who need it.
Kim Ngyuen-Finn, PhD, LPC-S
Kim is an Assistant Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Services at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). She earned her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counseling from UTRGV. Kim is a Texas Licensed Professional Counselor Board-approved supervisor and works as a clinician providing mental health services. She is also the Coordinator for the Expressive Arts Program at UTRGV, is the Supervising Consultant Counselor for UTRGV Office for Advocacy & Violence Prevention, and has served as an expert witness for domestic violence/sexual assault cases. Her research focuses on expressive arts therapy and diversity issues.
Angela Vallejo, CHW
Angela is a community health worker and was born and raised in the RGV- a true Weslaco Wildcat! A harm reductionist at heart; she was a health educator with Talk About it Texas for 2 years and prior to that also worked over two years at the Westbrook Clinic (VAC) as a Linkage and Retention to Care specialist. Angela loves the humanities especially reading-English and Spanish-horror, thrillers, dystopias, philosophy, fantasy, literary fiction, and non-fiction on almost any topic. Angela is an INFJ personality type and her main philosophies are “respect all living things” , and “no pasa nada.”