Briana Gonzalez: CO-pRESIDENT & Marketing chair

BCN & Creative Writing ‘26

Briana Gonzalez is a driven third-year student at the University of Michigan. She is pursuing a unique double major in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, combined with Creative Writing and Literature and a minor in Gender and Health. Her academic journey perfectly aligns with my professional ambitions, guiding her toward a career in law. She is particularly passionate about both venture capital/corporate and medical law, aiming to champion the growth of small, underrepresented companies while addressing healthcare disparities and advocating for universal access to high-quality healthcare services. She has traveled to Ecuador for The Quito Project, both as a tutor and Undergraduate Student Lead.

Brenda Gonzalez: CO-president

Gender & Health & creative writing ‘26

Brenda Gonzalez is a junior at the University of Michigan double majoring in Gender and Health and Creative Writing. Upon graduation, she aspires to pursue a career in the field of medicine to become a Neurosurgeon. She is of Cuban and Peruvian descent and was raised in Miami, Florida. Her passions lie in creative writing, making a positive impact on people’s lives, and educating herself in all aspects of life. This past summer she was one of the Undergraduate Student Leads, and the summer before she served as a tutor for the 5-6 year olds at the camp, where she won an award for being an open-minded individual. She adored working with children and aspires to contribute to the Latino community in all capacities.

KIANNA FRAGA ALBUJA: executive advisor

NURSING ‘26

Kianna Fraga Albuja is a current junior in the School of Nursing BSN program. She is minoring in Population Health in a Global Context and is incredibly passionate about reducing healthcare barriers, particularly within Spanish-speaking populations. In the summer of 2023, she helped teach the 9-10-year-olds and play with them tirelessly during free time. Being born in Quito, Ecuador, she deeply enjoyed the opportunity to spend the summer in Quito and see her family again after 10 years. Kianna loved all the traveling she got to do with her fellow tutors and family. After graduating from nursing school, Kianna plans to work in the pediatric ICU and eventually become an acute care pediatric nurse practitioner.

Alana Rodriguez

The University of michigan

Center for Global Health Equity

Alana Rodriguez is the U-M adviser for The Quito Project. She has served as the Education and Outreach Program Manager at U-M’s Center for Global Health Equity since August 2022 and previously served as Associate Director of Operations and Partnerships at U-M’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, bring experience from both of TQP’s co-sponsoring units. Alana has advised the education component of TQP since January 2017 and is overseeing the development of new health promotion initiatives beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year. She has a master’s degree in Latin American Studies and a Master’s of Public Health in Epidemiology from San Diego State University. Her research focuses on sexual and reproductive health in Latin America, especially Cuba and Mexico. Her favorite part of participating in The Quito Project is having the privilege of collaborating with such wonderful students and partners at U-M and USFQ.

DOLO Lasso

universidad SAn Francisco de Quito

Department of Education

María Dolores Lasso (Dolo) is a USFQ’s Education teacher for both the undergraduate and graduate programs. She obtained her PhD degree in Education at New Mexico State University, her dissertation focuses on educational leadership and teacher education. She obtained her Masters degree in Education from Boston University and an Elementary Education undergraduate degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. She has been a teacher in Ecuador for more than two decades, focusing on teacher education and educational improvement during the last decade. She is currently the providing academic advice and continuous improvement and innovation advice as curriculum expert to all the different academic areas at USFQ. She has been the appointed Faculty Advisor for The Quito Project, a community outreach project lead by student volunteering efforts in collaboration with University of Michigan since 2013.