Jeremy Martin, Vice President Energy & Sustainability Jeremy M. Martin is Vice President, Energy & Sustainability at the Institute of the Americas, an inter-American public policy think-tank located at the University of California San Diego. The Institute of the Americas Energy Program works to foster a deeper understanding of the most critical energy issues facing the Western Hemisphere. Jeremy spends his time delving into the geopolitics of energy and closely following energy industry trends and policy issues across the Americas, and is a frequent commentator and writer on Latin American and energy issues. Jeremy has testified before the US Congress on energy issues in Latin America, teaches a graduate seminar in Latin American Energy Politics at the University of San Diego (USD), and serves as Curator of the energy section of the US-Mexico Network, an online forum hosted by the University of Southern California (USC). Thanks to his upbringing, he is a diehard Red Sox fan, Civil War buff, and news junkie. Jeremy graduated with honors in History from The Citadel in Charleston, SC and a Masters in International Affairs/International Development from the American University in Washington, DC. He has yet to achieve his lifelong dream of being a Stand-Up Comic.

Sherry White, Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives and Board Secretary Since 1991, Ms. White has been an integral member of the staff of the Institute of the Americas having served in a number of capacities; including Director of Development, Campaign Manager, Board Secretary, Project Manager, Innovation Program Director, and now as Senior Advisor to the President for Strategic Initiatives and continuing as Board Secretary to the Institute’s international Board of Directors. In her 25 years with the Institute, she has organized and implemented numerous events including small, private gatherings and board meetings throughout the hemisphere, seminars, workshops, and large-scale events such as Campaign events, Institute anniversary events, and over a dozen visits to the Institute by current and former Latin American heads of state. She organized a series of events bringing Latin American entrepreneurs, innovation intermediaries, and government officials to learn about San Diego’s innovation ecosystem; design thinking; tech transfer; and, other key elements for a successful innovation ecosystem. Currently, she is a member of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I &E) Program team working with the I &E Program Vice President to launch new activities and expand existing ones.  In addition, she works closely with the President and CEO to identify and develop partnerships for the Institute, as well as raising funding support for key initiatives.

Rita Oliveira, Energy Program Associate & Office Manager. Rita Oliveira is a Program Associate for the Energy and Sustainability Program. She is also the Office and HR Manager as well as Assistant to the President. Rita holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics from Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Portugal and MBA from National University, in San Diego. Prior to joining the Institute, she worked as a collector at Chase Home Finance in San Diego and as an Assistant Manager for F. Abecassis in Portugal.

Cecilia Aguillon, Director, Energy Transition Initiative. Cecilia Aguillon is the Director of the Energy Transition Initiative at the Institute of the Americas, an impartial and independent non-profit organization promoting dialogue and collaboration across the Western Hemisphere to foster sound public policies and to advance sustainable inclusive economic growth and prosperity. She enables public-private dialogues to develop sustainable renewable energy markets. Cecilia worked at Kyocera Solar, Inc. in California on Business Development and Government Relations for 18 years. She worked with policy makers on designing solar energy programs and renewable portfolio standards for implementation across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. She developed these initiatives in cooperation with several trade associations throughout the United States. She served on the board of the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CalSEIA) and participated in the design and implementation of the California Solar Initiative. She is currently on the board of the Climate Action Campaign working to implement sustainable energy programs for San Diego, California.

Maria Luisa Reyes, STEM Programs Administrator. Ms. Luisa Reyes is the Institute of the Americas’ STEM Programs Administrator, after four years of being an influential contributor in the Institute’s Science & Innovation Summer Camp and Co-founding the Professional Workshop for STEM Instructors. As a Gates Millennium Scholar, Ms. Reyes completed her bachelor’s degree specializing in neuroscience & physiology at the prestigious University of California, San Diego. During her time there, she co-authored the renowned book Mexican Migration and the U.S. Economic Crisis: A Transitional Perspective, focusing the study on parallel relationships between traditional and scientific medicine, in collaboration with the Mexican Migration Field Research Program. Subsequently, she became a licensed Emergency Medical Technician where she provided her services in the state’s highest unemployment community for three years. In the educational sector, she served as Civil Engineering Department Lead for over two years at the national Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement (MESA) program and is a fellow for the renowned Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. She has taken the IOA STEM Programs to an international audience utilizing her experience of 10 years in the U.S. – Mexico region, where she is designing to implement an innovative workshop for both students and instructors in Chile and in Mexico. Luisa continues her mission by serving as a spokesperson, panelist, and instructor in national and international academic and health & science forums.

Seth Goldman Bio Coming Soon!

Carlos Fernández, Webmaster, Graphic Designer, and Video-Audio Supervisor. Prior to his current position at the Institute, Carlos did freelance work as Web Developer, Graphic Designer and Multimedia consultant. He also worked for JVC Electronics and for the marketing department at The LandAmerica Financial Group the third largest title insurance group in the US, where he worked as Junior Web Developer and Graphic Artist. A native of Spain, Carlos moved to San Diego, California in 1999. In 2001 he graduated as Web Designer at the North Media Center. From 2001-2004 he attended San Diego City College at the Graphic and Multimedia Design Department.

Diana Rodríguez, Energy Program Associate & Facilities Manager. Diana Rodríguez has been Energy & Sustainability Program Associate for over nine years. Diana also is the Institute’s Facilities Manager. Prior to joining the Institute, Diana worked assisting the DCM at the Embassy of Colombia in Washington, D.C., for seven years. She holds a BA on International Trade from Los Libertadores University in Colombia.

Nelson Narciso Filho holds graduate degrees in Industrial Administration and Economic Engineering from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and an undergraduate degree in Mechanic Engineering from Souza Marques University. He has held multiple senior executive positions at Exploration and Production (E&P) companies and service providers in the oil and gas industry, such as HRT Africa, Halliburton, ABB, Vetco Gray and Hughes WKM. He has accumulated over 35 years of solid experience and extensive knowledge of management and business development in E&P, as well as start-up operations in Brazil, Angola and Namibia. In addition, he was Director of the Brazilian regulatory agency for oil, natural gas, and biofuels (ANP) from 2006 to 2010, when developed a broad vision of the sector’s regulation, having participated in numerous international forums where he was responsible for introducing the Brazilian market dynamics and promoting investment in the country. During his term, he led the creation of the Local Content Coordinating Body, led the Gas Flaring Reduction program, Improvement of Production Fiscal Metering program, Bidding Rounds and Integrated System for products movement.