The North Texas Alliance is a group that once started as Greater Dallas Region of the National Hispanic Institute, which was started in 2006. Now, we’ve expanded our efforts beyond the Greater Dallas area and are expanding our community within the North Texas region. As we grow, our mission continues to engage Latino youth in leadership opportunities while developing a community investor mindset.

Our Project Administrators

George Rodriguez

co project administrator

George Rodriguez is a volunteer parent who began his participation with NHI in 1984. As a product of DISD, George attended the Texas LDZ in Austin and continued to volunteer with NHI as a counselor. He is an alum of the University of Notre Dame and graduate of SMU law school. George is now a member of the Board of Trustees and Of-Counsel to NHI. Along with his wife Michelle, George is the Educational Director for the Texas LDZ. He and his wife practice immigration law in Dallas and both of their children participate and volunteer in NHI programs.

Samantha Cortez

co project administrator

Jovahana Avila

Co Project Administrator

My name is Jovahana Avila, and I was born and raised in Oak Cliff. I've been with the Dallas Alliance since 2012 as an Oratory participant at the Texas Great Debate. I obtained a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in English Writing and Rhetoric at St. Edward's University in May of 2019. I now work at Goldman Sachs as a Financial Crime Compliance Analyst and serve as one of the Project Administrators. 

Our Head Coach History

Bella Rodriguez

head coach 2020-2021

Isabella Rodriguez is the Head Coach for the North Texas Alliance for this 2021 season. She has a passion for her work with the National Hispanic Institute. She has attended the Great Debate program in Sherman, Texas during the 2019 summer and competed in Mock Trial. She spent the 2020 season serving as a director for the Oratory category. Her favorite part of the North Texas Alliance is their ability to follow fundamental #12 Reflect, Adapt, and Execute. Isabella views the National Hispanic Institute not just as a place to develop leadership skills but she is proud to call it home.

Stephanie Espinoza

former head coach 2019-2020

A junior at the Townview School for the Talented and Gifted, Stephanie has been part of NHI since her freshman year of high school. She participated in the 2018 Texas Great Debate in Extemporaneous Speaking and at the 2019 Las Americas LDZ was recognized as the best orator of the Supreme Court Justice. She will continue her NHI journey this summer at the 2020 Northeast CWS. Stephanie has earned the role of Head Coach for the NHI Dallas Alliance. She would like to major in international studies with a concentration in comparative political, economic and social systems. Her top schools include George Washington University, American University, and the University of Richmond. She looks forward to staying involved with the community and one day starting her own NHI Alliance!

Fabián Valerio

co-head coach 2018-2019

A member of the National Hispanic Institute since his freshman year in high school, Fabián Valerio has participated and volunteered with NHI around Texas and beyond! With the Dallas Alliance, Fabián has volunteered as Cross Examination category Director, 2018-2019 Head Coach, and as the Director of Judges for the 2020 Dallas vs. El Paso Rumble. Now, as he embarks upon his college career at Stanford University, Fabián looks to expand his involvement with NHI at the international level.

Meet the Committees

community engagement

Bella Rodriguez

Mock Trial

Community Engagement Committee Leader

John Paul ll High School ‘22

Alhena Kerawala

Mock Trial

John Paul ll High School ‘23

Emma Hernandez

Mock Trial

John Paul ll High School ‘22

Isaiah Davis

Mock Trial

John Paul ll High School ‘22

Lily Thorson

Category

School

curriculum

Ariana Palomo

Curriculum Committee Leader

Mock Trial

School

Gabriela Arriaga

Extemporaneous Speaking

Townview SEM ‘23

Isabel Aldrete

Mock Trial

Bishop Lynch High School ‘22

Jesus Sanmiguel

Category

School

Juliana Quinones

Oratory

John Paul ll High School

Tommy Thompson

Extemporaneous Speaking

Townview SEM ‘23

recruitment

Adrian Hernandez

Category

School

Arnold Perez

Category

School

Evelyn Montoya

Cross Examination

Uplift Williams Preparatory ‘23

Josephine González

Oratory

School of the Talented and Gifted at Townview ‘22

Stephanie Espinoza

Recruitment Committee Leader

Extemporaneous Speaking

School for the Talented and Gifted at Townview '21