Ricky Ramón – Director of Programs & Operations
Ricky Ramón comes to us with over 12 years of educational experience. He has taught at the middle school, high School and university levels, including the University of Notre Dame (South Bend, IN), St. Edward’s University (Austin, TX), Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX), Hill College (Hillsboro, TX), Boston Arts Academy (Boston, MA), McCallum Fine Arts Academy (Austin, TX), Henry Ford Academy: Alameda School for Art + Design (San Antonio, TX) and Worcester Academy (Worcester, MA).
A native of south Texas, Ricky graduated from Pearsall High School in 1995, where he was Salutatorian of his senior class. Ricky received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and English from the University of Notre Dame (South Bend, IN) in 1999. After graduating from Notre Dame, Ricky returned to his hometown where he taught English and Theatre in Pearsall for two years. While at Pearsall, Ricky was the Theater Arts Director and directed the Pearsall High School One-Act Play to its first UIL area competition in over two decades.
In 2003, he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting & Directing from Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX). After earning his MFA, Ricky moved to the Ft. Worth area to continue teaching. He was the Theatre Arts Director for two years at Alvarado High School in Alvarado, Texas. While at Alvarado, Ricky’s students advanced to the 4A UIL State and Regional levels in UIL Prose & Poetry Interpretation and UIL One-Act Play. Ricky won Teacher of the Year honors in 2005 for his hard work and numerous achievements with the theatre arts department at Alvarado High School.
In 2006, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Performance Studies from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts (New York City, NY). In 2007, Ricky earned a Master of Education degree in Arts in Education from Harvard University (Cambridge, MA).
In 2008, Ricky was awarded the prestigious John Hope Fellowship to teach theatre at Worcester Academy in Worcester, Massachusetts. After his fellowship, Ricky helped to start the Henry Ford Academy: Alameda School for Art & Design in San Antonio, Texas.
In 2010, Ricky returned to his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, to teaching Acting & Directing and to advise first-year college students. He was also appointed as the Co-Director of the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program, a minority scholars program in which Ricky was a student from 1995-1999.
Ricky has also been active member of the Texas Educational Theatre Association Adjudicator’s Organization since 2002. He judges UIL One-Act Play clinics, festivals, and contests all over the State of Texas.
Richard Amador – Director of Development 
Richard brings a unique perspective to the organization. He comes to us after spending ten years in the U.S. Marine Corps. As an Infantry Leader he courageously led and fought in three combat tours in Iraq. His last four years of service were spent professionally mentoring and developing Navy and Marine Corps officers as part of the instructor cadre at The University of Texas at Austin Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC). His achievements in the Marine Corps were recognized throughout his career with numerous medals and acknowledgments including selection into the Marine Corps Enlisted to Commission Education Program. His strong affinity for service to others is what led him to the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium.
A world traveler Richard was raised in a military home and has lived in Puerto Rico, Panama and the states of Louisiana, Hawaii, Missouri, California and Rhode Island to name a few. His exposure to the world has afforded him a high level of multicultural and international awareness nurturing in him a culture of resilience and adaptability. He spent the better portion of his adolescence reared in Killeen, TX and happily calls it home. Growing up in Central Texas shaped the influential leader he is today and no mission is more personal to him than to devote his professional prosperity to the youth of his community.
The discipline and dedication fostered by his Marine Corps background are demonstrated in his leadership and mentoring style. Among his many civic activities, Richard is a weekly volunteer at his neighborhood high school supporting college preparation and career counseling for the student body of Del Valle High School through the renowned GO Center. Through his work at HSC he seeks to bestow the lessons of value in virtue and honor afforded to him on the burgeoning youth of his Hispanic community.
In his own educational endeavors, Richard has earned his undergraduate degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and will graduate with a Masters in Public Administration from Texas State University in May 2013. Beyond his educational achievements, continuing to be a civic leader is what Richard desires the most.
