Class of 2025: 30 Under 40 Top Latino Leaders of South Jersey Sponsored by Franklin Bank and Dr. Patricia Campos Medina

Michael Bautista is a senior journalism major with a focus on broadcast and multimedia journalism at Rowan University. Bautista serves as the director of Live-Events for Student University Programmers, where he helps plan and oversee some events on campus at the Chamberlain Student Center. He has continued to build his promising journalism career by serving as a staff writer for his campus student newspaper The Whit and working as a freelance writer for Sun By The Sea Magazine in his hometown of Wildwood. Before that, he served as the 2022-2023 editor-in-chief for the Atlantic Cape Review student newspaper at Atlantic Cape Community College. There he helped revive the student newspaper and brought focus back to the student body. During his time, he mentored young journalists helping them develop their writing skills and voice. After graduating, he plans to obtain his master’s in journalism and become a TV news correspondent for a major news network.

Silvia Catalan-Culnan is the legislative director to New Jersey Assemblyman William Spearman and the first Latina elected to the Mount Laurel Township Council. Previously, she served a director of constituent services for State Senator Nilsa Perez-Cruz, Assemblyman Spearman and Assemblyman Bill Moen of the 5th Legislative District covering parts of Camden and Gloucester counties. Catalan-Culnan, her mother, father, and four brothers are survivors of the Colombian Civil War that killed 220,000 people. She has called Mount Laurel home ever since she moved to the United States and becoming a citizen. Her love for the township only grows as she and her husband raise their daughter. They enjoy the parks, open spaces and community events and supporting local businesses, especially the farmer’s market in the Spring and Summer. Silvia serves in many different capacities, including on the Mount Laurel Planning Board.

Britny Dileo has worked as an IRB administrator at her alma mater Stockton University since November 2022. There, she analyzes and reviews applications for the IRB to ensure completeness and compliance with appropriate federal and state laws, and institutional policies. Dileo trains and educates faculty, staff, and students on IRB processes, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements. She also prepares and submits reports to institutional officials and regulatory agencies as required, along with supporting PIs and research teams to ensure proper study documentation is in order to secure IRB approval, and maintain compliance with federal, state, and internal policies. She maintains active knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, and ethical norms that are applicable to human research activities through continuous professional development. Dileo earned her bachelor’s in health science in 2021 and is expected to complete her master’s degree in health administration and leadership in May 2026.

Stephanie Gonzalez is the energetic coordinator for the City of Bridgeton’s Urban Enterprise Zone. Gonzalez has led an effort to bring small businesses and start ups together, particularly those led by Hispanic and Black owners, to introduce themselves to the community and give them a chance at a positive start through various programs and events. Her efforts have helped retailers qualify to reduced sales taxes and other benefits. A native of California, she worked with the City of Los Angeles for 14 years where she helped downtown businesses come together with events that helped them grow before moving to Bridgeton. Fluent in Spanish, she has helped tear down the language barrier that had been an issue with many new Bridgeton business owners. She also leads monthly merchant meetings to get ahead of concerns and issues with entrepreneurs. She work has won the praises of Bridgeton city officials, the local business community and was highlighted in May by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs

Xiara Maldonado, is a Parents Inc. of New Jersey, South Jersey volunteer, recently graduated with a 3.7 GPA and received the Mercy and Social Justice Award at Georgian Court University. She was in two honor societies: Phi Alpha and Tri Alpha. Maldonado has distinguished through her work as an educational aide for students with multiple disabilities and volunteers to tutor homeschooled teens at risk for dropping out of school. She has completed Parents Inc. Helpline training and provided excellent service to the callers of the 24-hour Family Helpline for almost two years. She is comfortable and confident working with a diverse population, and her skills in active listening has been efficient in problem-solving. She also trained in facilitation and held a support group for volunteers. An empathic ear, she provides community outreach to connect families to community services. She regularly translated parenting materials from English to Spanish to help them get involved with their children’s work. resentative for the class 2025. 

Alexander Mendoza is a community organizer for El Pueblo Unido of Atlantic City, one of South Jersey’s most prominent immigrant rights organizations in the region. In a short time since joining the organization, he has proven himself to be a strong vocal advocate, speaking at numerous rallies for the organization. Currently, he is leading El Pueblo Unido’s rapid response efforts, guiding the group’s municipal accountability program, and taking on two active deportation defense cases. “Most recently, he accompanied the family of our local detained community member from Ocean County to Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, an incredibly difficult but necessary act of solidarity that speaks to his heart and dedication,” said Cristian Moreno Rodriguez, the El Pueblo’s executive director. Outside of his role with El Pueblo, Mendoza was recently appointed to the new Atlantic City Landlord-Tenant Board and also serves as a youth member on the Atlantic City Police Citizen Advisory Board.

Melissa Morales is a media professional turned transformational leader who has appeared on radio and is now a published author with goals of uplifting her community. She has more than a decade of experience in professional radio, including FM, AM, and podcasting, where she served as a respected radio personality, news and traffic reporter for Real 91.5, and media contributor across various stations from Trenton, Philadelphia and Tampa. In 2020, Morales stepped into her purpose more boldly, launching her own brand Unplug The Script and becoming a first-time mother. With the brand, she created a space for raw, real conversations that meet people where they are, encouraging emotional honesty and inner healing. Her signature philosophy, “Winning Season,” reflects her unwavering belief that true success starts from within. Morales became a best-selling author, having penned the transformative journal Hey God, It’s Me and co-authored Warrior Women: Turning Life Lessons into Legacy. In early 2025, Morales founded the nonprofit Together We Win Global, an organization devoted to supporting single-parent households and children.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Dr. Aledy Moreta, DMD, FICOI, is one of the few Latina dentists in the state of New Jersey. Along with her dental practice, Moreta is passionate about her community, serving as a volunteer for numerous events and mentoring aspiring Hispanic dental professionals while expanding access to quality care. She earned her dental degree Magna Cum Laude from the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, followed by advanced training in Spain at the International University of Catalonia and the University of Santiago de Compostela. She later earned her DMD from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where she received multiple awards for clinical excellence. Committed to staying at the forefront of dental innovation, Dr. Moreta integrates advanced technology and ongoing education into her work. In 2024, she founded Almore Dental Studio, where she provides highly aesthetic, patient-centered care.

Jose Pagan is a higher education professional with a strong record of leadership in student engagement and institutional advancement. As program coordinator for social engagement at Rutgers University-Camden, he leads initiatives that enhance student life and foster a sense of connection and purpose across campus. His work centers on creating opportunities for students to explore identity, build community, and develop leadership skills in a supportive environment. Prior to this role, Pagan served as assistant director of alumni and parent engagement, where he advanced philanthropic partnerships and cultivated meaningful relationships with alumni, particularly those from historically underrepresented backgrounds. With a strategic approach to engagement and a deep commitment to student success, Pagan continues to build bridges between individuals and institutions, helping shape a campus culture that values inclusion, leadership, and lifelong connection.

Brandon Quiles is the assistant director for student support services at Rutgers University-Camden. In his roles he manages the federally funded TRiO program, which supports students who identify as first generation, lower income, or having a disability, as well as the Student Success Coach Office, a department focused on the smooth transition and retention of first year students at the institution. In addition, as a committed advocate for Latino/a students, Brandon volunteers his time as the advisor to student organizations, including Latin American Student Organization (LASO) and Lambda Theta Alpha (LTA) Sorority, Inc., and developed two retention initiatives HombRes and MujeRes, both designed to empower and support Latino and Latina students with leadership development, academic accountability, and civic engagement. With 10 years of professional experience in higher education, Brandon is dedicated to supporting and advocating for access and student success for all undergraduate college students.

A proud Black and Puerto Rican professional, Reyes was raised by my grandmother in a vibrant, close-knit Hispanic family. After more than a decade in the automotive industry, she transitioned into higher education, returning to Stockton University, where she graduated as an EOF scholar. Now working in admissions, Reyes works to improve process efficiency for both students and staff. Recently, she supported the EOF team in strategic planning and marketing efforts for the summer cohort program, an experience that’s allowed me to give back to the same community that helped shape my educational journey. Over the past year, Reyes has also built strong relationships with campus partners, further expanding my ability to collaborate and contribute meaningfully. Outside of her professional life, Reyes is a part-time caretaker for her grandmother, a role she said has grounded her, teaching her daily about strength, purpose, and legacy.

Nilsa Cruz-Perez, and Assemblymen William Moen and William Spearman. There, he tracks, monitors, and documents daily constituent inquiries through the region. He conducted outreach to various government departments to secure resources and services beneficial to constituents. The job often makes him the face of the legislative district as the first contact in replying to voters through the district. Before starting his second stint in the district offices, he served as and executive assistant and research analyst for The Aubrey Group in Camden. He acted as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders regarding the CEO. He managed the the CEO’s calendar, email, and commitments, ensuring timely communication, providing advanced preparation for meetings and engagements, and overseeing special projects and complex document preparation. A graduate of Rutgers University-Camden, he made the Dean’s List every semester and graduated Cum Laude.

Kayla Rodriguez, a senior program manager at Rutgers University-Camden’s Future Scholars, is a passionate advocate for first-generation college students and a dedicated leader in expanding access to higher education. A Camden native, she brings a deep-rooted commitment to empowering her community and enhancing educational opportunities for underserved populations. She is currently a doctoral candidate in education, culture, and society at Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Education. Her research and practice focus on equity and the lived experiences of underrepresented students. She also earned her master’s in social work from Rutgers University, specializing in management and policy. As a champion of college access, Kayla has played a pivotal role in supporting numerous first-generation students, fostering confidence, grit, resilience, and a strong sense of belonging throughout their academic careers. Outside of her professional work, Kayla is passionate about maintaining a balanced lifestyle through fitness and wellness.

Steven Serrano this year was promoted to senior government and external affairs specialist with the Atlantic City Electric’s government affairs organization. In addition to his project management and leadership experience with Exelon Corporation, Serrano has almost a decade of extensive experience across multifarious leadership roles within government, including execution oversight of various government services initiatives, internal and external stakeholder affairs and engagement, along with public safety administration. He earned his bachelor’s from Rowan University in 2019 and his master’s in business and organizational leadership from Neumann University in 2021.  He also serves on the Washington Township Board of Education as vice president, the Workforce Development Board of Cumberland, Salem, & Cape May Counties, and the Government Affairs Committee for the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce. In May 2024, Serrano was promoted at Atlantic City Electric to senior project manager.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Zapata has flourishes since moving to the United States three years ago, as she puts it, “full of dreams and determination to build a better future.” Zapata is currently an officer in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Salem Community College. She has received the Dean’s Award for four consecutive semesters. While in high school, she assisted in helping ESL students with homework and translations to make their transition easier, experiencing some of those same difficulties herself. Zapata said she has become involved to uplifts others like her. “I believe that everyone deserves a chance, no matter their race or where they come from,” Zapata said. “At the end of the day, we’re all human trying to thrive and do our best in life.” Zapata has earned the praise of Salem CC officials like Irma Cruz, director of the college’s EOF program.