Board Members

Pablo Chavajay

President

Pablo Chavajay is a Tz’utujiil Maya with a licencitura in psychology from the Universidad de San Carlos, Guatemala. He is currently Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of New Hampshire.

Pablo Chavajay

Is a Tz’utujil Maya of San Pedro La Laguna, Sololá, Guatemala. He obtained his licenciatura in psychology from the Universidad de San Carlos in Guatemala.

Later, he completed his masters and doctoral degrees at the University of California at Santa Cruz in California. Currently, Pablo works as an associate professor of psychology at the University of New Hampshire.

His research examines cultural and historical aspects of human development and learning. Studies he has conducted among Tz’utujil Maya families of Guatemala have focused on children’s engagements in problem solving with caregivers and other children as well as generational changes in mothers’ and grandmothers’ perceptions of childrearing practices. Pablo has served as a MEF board member since 2008.

Mitchell Denburg

Vice-President

Studied photography at The School of The Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Mitchell Denburg

Studied photography at The School of The Boston Museum of Fine Arts. His works are housed in many private collections and photographic archives including Tulane University, and the Centro de Investigaciones Regionales de Mesoamérica (CIRMA) Photographic Archive, of which Mitchell was the founder. His work has been used to illustrate many articles and journals on development and anthropology, including the book Getting Ahead Collectively by Albert O.

Hirschman. His forthcoming book The Portraits of Mitchell Denburg is currently in production. In 1998 together with his wife Elizabeth Habie, Mitchell founded the New Roots Foundation, dedicated to the rescue of young girls at risk and unique and endangered ecosystems in Guatemala.

Edward F. Fischer

Treasurer

is Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at Vanderbilt University.

Edward F. Fischer

is Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at Vanderbilt University. He has worked in Guatemala for over 25 years, conducting fieldwork in Tecpán and other Maya communities.

His books include Maya Cultural Activism in Guatemala (1996), Cultural Logics and Global Economies: Maya Identity in Thought and Practice (2001), Broccoli and Desire: Global Connections and Maya Struggles in Postwar Guatemala (2006, with Peter Benson), and most recently, The Good Life: Aspiration, Dignity, and the Anthropology of Wellbeing. He is also the founder and director of Maní+, a program that combats childhood malnutrition in Guatemala. More at www.tedfischer.org.

Elisabeth Nicholson

Secretary to the Board

has a master’s degree in English and Spanish from Heidelberg University

Elisabeth Nicholson

Has a master’s degree in English and Spanish from Heidelberg University, Germany and has worked with MEF since its inception as staff and volunteer supporter of the organization.

She is MEF’s secretary and assists the board in all matters. She visits and maintains close ties with the projects and does MEF development work. After the closing of MEF's main office in Vermont in 2010, she accepted the Executive Director's position and manages MEF's operations and programs.

Ian Lutz

Born and raised primarily in Guatemala until the age of 9, Ian Lutz has spent the last 28 years living in southern Vermont, where he and his wife, Jennifer, have owned and operated Cas-Cad-Nac Farm, a large alpaca breeding operation. When he is not writing marketing copy for their farm’s animals, interacting with clients, or up in the barns managing the herd’s breeding operations, he can often be found happily obsessing about his favorite sports teams: the Boston Red Sox, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Arsenal FC. He is thrilled to be back and helping to support the MEF in any way he can!

Sterling Crockett

Sterling Crockett has over 20 years of tech industry experience, currently as a Principal Software Engineer for Microsoft.

Sterling Crockett

Sterling Crockett has over 20 years of tech industry experience, currently as a Principal Software Engineer for Microsoft. He spent years living in the Quiche- and Mam-speaking regions of Guatemala, and along with his wife Julie believes deeply in the imperative to support the education of the young adults from those communities. Together, they have supported the Maya Educational Foundation since 2012.

He holds Masters and Bachelors degrees in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Guadalupe Sic López

Guadalupe Sic Lopez is from Uspantán, a small town in the Quiché department of Guatemala. She speaks Spanish, English, and K’iche’ Maya.

Guadalupe Sic López

Guadalupe Sic Lopez is from Uspantán, a small town in the Quiché department of Guatemala. She speaks Spanish, English, and K'iche' Maya. She later moved to Antigua, Guatemala, to complete her diversificado (Guatemalan equivalent of high school). While in Antigua, she furthered her studies at Rafael Landívar University where, with the support of MEF, she successfully earned her degree in Business Administration.

She currently works in business administration for a U.S.-based medical instrument company. Outside of work, she enjoys a variety of hobbies, including Latin dance and ballet, playing the piano, crafting jewelry, and practicing sports.

After graduation, Guadalupe served as a member of the FEPMaya Scholarship Committee for three and a half years. She is married and a proud pet parent to several "furry children." Passionate about animal welfare, she continues to support local animal rescue efforts.

Abner Cruz

He has an MBA with emphasis in Human Resources Management and a BS in Business Management from Upper Iowa University.

Abner Cruz

He has an MBA with emphasis in Human Resources Management and a BS in Business Management from Upper Iowa University.

In 1990, he was awarded with a scholarship under USAID and Georgetown University sponsorship and obtained an Associate’s Degree in Business Management from North Central Technical College.

He graduated as a Licensed Elementary School Teacher from Instituto Normal Mixto de Occidente, San Marcos City, Guatemala.

For over 10 years, he presided Latinos Unidos Inc., a non-profit organization whose mission was to educate and connect Latin American families with City, County, and State-based resources throughout northcentral Wisconsin.

Board Members

Pablo Chavajay

President

Mitchell Denburg

Vice-President

Edward F. Fischer

Treasurer

Elisabeth Nicholson

Secretary to the Board

Ian Lutz

Sterling Crockett

Guadalupe Sic López

Abner Cruz

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Board Members

Pablo Chavajay

President

Pablo Chavajay​

Mitchell Denburg

Vice-President

Mitchell Denburg

Edward F. Fischer

Treasurer

Edward F. Fischer

Elisabeth Nicholson

Secretary to the Board

Elisabeth Nicholson​

Ian Lutz

Ian Lutz

Sterling Crockett

Sterling Crockett

Guadalupe Sic López

Guadalupe Sic López

Abner Cruz

Abner Cruz

INFORMATION

DONATE

GREATNONPROFITS

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Pablo Chavajay

Elisabeth Nicholson