Advisory Board
The Advisory Board provides informal guidance, thought partnership, and strategic input to help Pasquines grow and better serve its readers. This is a non-fiduciary, volunteer board. It includes members from across the United States territories, across different industries, all committed to helping us publish the context of islands.
William-José Vélez González
Editor in Chief at Pasquines
William-José Vélez González is a native from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and a graduate from Florida International University in biomedical engineering, engineering management, and international relations. A designer with a strong interest in science, policy, and innovation, he previously served as the national executive vice president of the Puerto Rico Statehood Students Association. William-José lives in Washington, DC, where he works at the Children’s National Research Institute and runs Opsin, a nonprofit design studio dedicated to making design more accessible. You can see him on Love is Blind as Lydia’s brother. He is the founder and Editor in Chief of Pasquines.
Amaziah George
Managing Director at Mint & Company
Amaziah George is the managing director of Mint & Company, home of online newspaper State of the Territory News and a suite of business services from partners around the globe. As the founder and product manager of State of the Territory News, he is committed to high-quality journalism and community engagement. His experience includes being a communications aide in the US Virgin Islands and serving in the US Marine Corps. Amaziah attended Grand Canyon University for studies in secondary education.
Patrice Brown
Founder and Principal at Aloya Services
Patrice Brown is the founder and principal of Aloya Services, where she spearheads the development and implementation of business process automation solutions. She brings over 20 years of experience successfully managing operations, programs, and strategy for health care nonprofits and startups. Notably, Patrice has served as a champion for engagement among patient advocates and the business community and supported policy efforts to increase health access. Patrice has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maryland and an MBA from the Simon School at the University of Rochester.
Doug Mack
Author
Doug Mack is the author of The Not-Quite States of America (W.W. Norton, 2017), a travelogue and history of the U.S. territories. He has written about the territories, including their people, cultures, and political status issues, for The New York Times, Slate, TIME, and other publications.
Eduardo Soto
Principal at The Raben Group
Eduardo holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government from American University and a Juris Doctor from the George Mason University School of Law. He is a principal in Raben’s Government Affairs and Issue Campaigns practice areas. Maintaining a constant focus on criminal justice reform throughout his career, he lent his expertise and personal commitment to campaigns for federal cannabis reform and facilitated the introduction of historic legislation to end solitary confinement in the United States. Eduardo is also known for navigating bipartisan issues, whether advocating for debt relief on behalf of working families in Puerto Rico or through his work on behalf of the Wounded Warrior Project, helping to secure access to reproductive health care assistance—including in vitro fertilization—for critically wounded veterans.
Brenda Cabrera
Teacher at the Centro Residencial de Oportunidades Educativas de Mayagüez
Brenda Marie Cabrera Cintrón is a dedicated science educator with over 31 years of experience in the Puerto Rico Department of Education. Born in Mayagüez and currently residing in Cabo Rojo, she teaches Biology, Microbiology, Biotechnology, and Scientific Research at the prestigious Centro Residencial de Oportunidades Educativas de Mayagüez (CROEM), a specialized school in science and mathematics. With a deep passion for science, Brenda believes in the transformative power of education to change lives. Her professional background as a microbiologist enriches her teaching and fuels her commitment to promoting STEM education as a vital tool for empowering the next generation. She has been recognized multiple times by the Puerto Rico Department of Education for her excellence in science instruction. In her free time, Brenda enjoys reading and continually seeks to inspire curiosity and critical thinking in her students. Her mission is to nurture scientific minds and help shape a better future through knowledge, discovery, and innovation.
Lycia Ortega
Partner and CEO of Strategic Communication at Thunderbird Strategic
Lycia Ortega Maddocks, a citizen of the Quechan Indian Nation, is a political and communications strategist who has spent her career leading campaigns and movements to raise visibility and advance the political power of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and the global Indigenous population. Lycia is skilled at relationship building and in strategic analysis of local, state, and federal power dynamics. She leverages policy advocacy and integrated voter engagement to build ecosystems of change designed to expand the exercise of Tribal sovereignty for Native people and their communities. She holds degrees in Indigenous Peoples Law, Communications, and Film and Video Production.