Futuro Academy is governed by a
dedicated Board of Trustees
Khanh Andersen
President. Program Director, Healogics
Khanh Andersen is a Program Director with Healogics, the nation’s leading wound care management company providing high-quality wound care and consulting services to over 800 hospitals across the United States. She serves as the Director for the Advanced Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center in an operational management and business development capacity. Previously Ms. Andersen was the marketing and business development director for Royal Springs Healthcare and Rehab, a local skilled nursing facility, and has also worked as a nurse. Though her professional focus has been health care for older adults, Ms. Andersen has always had a passion for making a difference in the lives of children and young adults. As an undergraduate at the University of Iowa, she volunteered with and was the Executive Chair of Dance Marathon, a student organization that provided year-round support to pediatric cancer patients and their families. She also volunteered for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Miracles in Motion, a therapeutic equestrian center in Eastern Iowa that serves children and adults with physical and cognitive challenges. Ms. Andersen graduated with a B.A. in Biology from the University of Iowa and earned her Master’s in Health Administration from Ohio University. She also serves Governance Committee Chair and sits on the Finance Committee for Futuro Academy.
Sylvia Espinoza
Teacher Representative. Teacher, Futuro Academy Charter School
Sylvia Espinoza is a Kindergarten teacher and Grade-Level Chair. She joined the Futuro staff as a founding teacher in 2017. This is her third-year teaching Kindergarten and prior, she has taught Pre-Kindergarten for 4 years. Sylvia has also worked as a Project Facilitator, coaching Pre-K teachers in East Las Vegas for one year. She holds a Master's in Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as well as an endorsement to Teach English as a Second Language. She is deeply committed to working in partnership with students, families, and staff to create memorable educational experiences and cultivate a mindset of life-long learning that will set our students on a path to success. She also serves as the teacher representative for the Board of Trustees.
Abigayle Farris
Trustee. Corporate Counsel, Regional Operations – Caesars
Abigayle Farris is part of the in-house legal team for Caesars Entertainment. She received her J.D. from the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, cum laude, in 2008, and has practiced in the areas of gaming law and commercial litigation ever since. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Ms. Farris grew up in a family full of dedicated educators, and continues their tradition today as an adjunct instructor for both the University of Southern Mississippi and University of Nevada Las Vegas. Ms. Farris is licensed to practice law in Louisiana, Mississippi and Nevada.
Grace Funcion
Trustee, Academics Committee Chair. Vice President of Curriculum and Design – LearnWithSocrates
Grace Funcion is the Vice President of Curriculum Design for LearnWithSocrates, a local education technology company. She grew up in East Las Vegas and graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a dual baccalaureate in English and French. Ms. Funcion then worked as an educator teaching middle and high school English. As a school leader, she has served on school organizational teams and committees for cultural awareness, response to intervention, and technology integration. Her passion is in designing curriculum to meet the needs of diverse learners and identifying actionable data to make informed decisions. She holds a Master of Education from Sierra Nevada College with specialization in Teaching English as a Second Language. Ms. Funcion also serves as chair of the Academics Committee.
Ela Maria Garcia
Trustee. Housing Counselor, Nevada Partners, Inc. (NPI)
Ela Garcia is a Housing Counselor at Nevada Partners, Inc. (NPI), a local nonprofit committed to helping our community with education, employment, and job training, along with helping first-time homebuyers to purchase a home. Ela is an integral source in the Housing Department and enjoys teaching clients about the programs that NPI offers to the community. Ela’s most recent success was her execution of the most successful back to school event. NPI supported helping over 200 children get the back to school. Ela also advocated those in need and required encouragement and support. Ela joined the Futuro Academy Board in March of 2018 and continues to be a staple in both the community and proud student parent advocate for Futuro Academy.
Christopher Lujan
Trustee. Senior Associate and Project Designer, Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects
Christopher Lujan is an Associate and Senior Project Designer at Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects [TSK] in Henderson, NV. Since joining TSK in 2007, Mr. Lujan has shared in the firm’s award-winning success and has developed a breadth of experience from his work on complex project types ranging from government, public, commercial, multi-family, transportation and educational facilities. His specialized involvement in the creation of learning spaces and the infrastructure which supports these areas provides a unique perspective on the requirements of such facilities. Actively engaged in his professional organization, he currently serves as the National Chair for the American Institute of Architects [AIA] Emerging Professionals ArchiPAC Committee and is the State Advocacy Chair for AIA Nevada. Mr. Lujan is a graduate of the University of Nevada - Las Vegas’ Master of Architecture program where he was awarded the Fielden Medal for Academic Excellence in Architecture, the UNLV College of Fine Arts Most Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year and the AIA Henry Adams Fund Award of Merit for Excellence in the Study of Architecture. Benefitting from such experience, Chris intends to be the Chair of the Futuro Academy Facilities Board.
Julio Meza
Trustee. Marketing Project Manager, The Venetian-The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino
Mr. Meza grew up in East Las Vegas, and graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, with a B. S. in Marketing, and has used his education at many companies in the Las Vegas Valley, including Wynn Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, and Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Mr. Meza’s specialties over the past 10 years in the hospitality/marketing industry include the development of promotion and communication strategies. Some notable events he has worked on include the TopSpin Charity Ping Pong Tournament, The Lili Claire Foundation, The Women’s Leadership Conference, and the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure. Mr. Meza serves on the board of Futuro to help others in his community benefit from a great education that will prepare them to succeed at college at prepare for the career of their choice.
Jennifer Roberts
Secretary. Associate Director, International Center for Gaming Regulation at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Jennifer Roberts is the Associate Director of the International Center for Gaming Regulation at University of Nevada Las Vegas. Ms. Roberts was previously a partner at Duane Morris LLP. Prior to that, she was a shareholder in the Gaming & Regulatory Department of Lionel Sawyer & Collins. Her gaming law practice included representation of clients in all areas of gaming law, including licensing, compliance, and gaming law and regulatory development. Ms. Roberts’ current legal practice includes alcohol beverage licensing and compliance, as well as land use and zoning, business licensing, and regulatory and administrative law. Ms. Roberts is an adjunct professor at the William S. Boyd School of Law, teaching courses on introduction to gaming law, gaming law policy, fundamentals of casino operations and management, and resort hotel casino law. She is also an adjunct professor in gaming law at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah.
Brian Rosenberg
Treasurer. Chief Executive Officer, The Rosenberg Group (TRG Consulting)
Brian G. Rosenberg has been focused on helping businesses streamline business functions and implement technologies for over 20 years. As an entrepreneur, Mr. Rosenberg has built four successful businesses. As a speaker and author, he has shared expertise on numerous topics including technology, business process improvement, leadership, entrepreneurship, fraud prevention, change management, and shared services. Mr. Rosenberg has assisted companies of all sizes with scaling and growing their businesses. He has helped companies to select and implement key technologies and led large business transformation projects. He has guided small and mid-size firms with developing growth strategies and developing scalable processes. As CEO of The Rosenberg Group, he is currently leading a large transformation project for University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. In 2015, Brian Rosenberg was recognized as a Distinguished Man of Nevada. Rosenberg received the Smart CEO Future 50 award in 2012 and 2013 as the CEO of RPI Consultants. He sold RPI in 2014 and moved to Las Vegas with his wife and three young children. Mr. Rosenberg also served as the treasurer for Rotary International.