Scarlett Leon, MHS

Scarlett Leon received her B.S. in Psychology with Special Honors at the University of Texas, where she researched the impacts of chronic stress during early puberty on cue-directed tracking behavior and learning during adulthood. Scarlett then earned her Master of Health Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology alongside a Graduate Certificate in Public Mental Health Research at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, where her thesis focused on nucleocytoplasmic transport defects in neurodegeneration and aging. She will be starting medical school this year.

President

Alex Uribe

Adrian Agapito, MD

Vice President

Dr. Agapito specializes in psychiatry. He completed his undergraduate education at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio, followed by residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, TX. Dr. Agapito completed residency training in psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, TX.

Lulu DeBoer

Alex graduated from the University of Texas San Antonio in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He holds a position as Project Engineer at MA Mortenson Construction, where he works on the development of wind and solar sites, providing clean energy to cities across the country. He is deeply committed to giving back to the communities surrounding each project site, collaborating with his colleagues to organize fundraising initiatives and participate in local volunteer efforts. He has become involved with Crescentia Initiative as Secretary and a proud member of our Board of Directors.

Secretary

Development Director

Lulu DeBoer grew up in rural East Texas and graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Film. She currently resides in Houston, TX, and delivers on her passion for community and advocacy as the development director of Crescentia Initiative and president of Girl Power House Collective. She is the daughter of an I-Kiribati mother and a Dutch American father. Besides English, she speaks Kiribati and German.

Samuel Garcia Jr., Ph.D.

Communications and Outreach Director

Dr. Garcia Jr. holds degrees from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and a Ph.D. in School Improvement from Texas State University. He co-founded Creative BITS to spark literacy, storytelling, and sustainability among youth. Before becoming a faculty member at UTRGV, he worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, and then served as an Educator Professional Development Specialist at Kennedy Space Center. As an education specialist, Dr. Garcia is committed to developing STEM educational mindsets, tools, and resources, and facilitating educational experiences for educators and students.

Parthi Yagnik

Program and Volunteer Coordinator

Parthi Yagnik is a student at the University of Texas at Austin studying Human Biology. She calls Dallas, TX, home and has a strong passion for research and community engagement. She is Chair of Longhorn EMS, a volunteer EMT organization at her university. She is currently researching how pregnancy affects behavioral neuroendocrinology and appetite in women post-partum. Coming from a family of computer scientists in India, Parthi hopes to be the first in her family to pursue a career in medicine.

Clarisse Girisheja Mutangana, M.S.

International Outreach Director

Clarisse is a PharmD student at the University of Michigan. She earned her B.A. in Health and Society with a focus on Health Behaviors from the University of Texas at Austin in 2021 and an M.S. in Medical Sciences from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in 2023. She is passionate about advancing access to high-quality healthcare within diverse communities and brings a solid foundation in communication, leadership, and service. Outside of academics, she enjoys participating in Rwandan dances and storytelling in Kinyarwanda, staying connected to her culture and community.