Board of Directors

The board of directors, alongside the director of operations, work together to oversee, facilitate, and assist the students in their vision and their work. Together, the board of directors work to build the education world of tomorrow — empowering students, providing professional development opportunities to educators, and guiding the MSP mission.

Our Team

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    Michael Williams

    President

    Mr. Michael Williams is a social studies teacher and community activist who returned to teach and work in the county and school district in which he grew up. 

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    He currently teaches Social Studies at Rockville High School, but has also taught at John F. Kennedy High School as well as Walter Johnson High School. The 2016 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Teacher of the Year, graduated with a Bachelors in Political Science from Howard University, a Masters in History from Northwestern University, and a Masters in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University.

    Williams is the Co-Founder of the Minority Scholars Program (MSP), a student-driven initiative that focuses on eradicating the opportunity gap and empowering students to analyze and disrupt racial inequities and systems of oppression within the school system and across the county. He is a Fulbright Distinguished Teacher award winner and the 2014 recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award. Williams possesses a love for sports, music, history, literature, culture and justice.

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    Maria Salmeron

    Vice President

    Maria Salmeron Melendez, Ed.M., immigrated to Montgomery County from Honduras with her mother and brother in 2010. 

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    Her journey from Latin America, through her experiences in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and higher education, has profoundly shaped her commitment to expanding educational opportunity, strengthening financial stewardship in schools and local education agencies (LEAs), and fostering culturally inclusive, trauma-informed classrooms.

    Maria’s connection to MSP began in 2014 during her sophomore year at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, when she participated in the historic March to Close the Achievement Gap, organized by Minority Scholars Program (MSP) student leaders. Inspired by the power of student voice and collective action, she joined MSP shortly afterward. A decade later, she continues to advance MSP’s mission to close opportunity gaps disproportionately affecting Black and Brown youth by proudly serving on the MSP Board of Directors as Vice President.

    Maria earned her master’s degree in Education Policy and Analysis from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Government & Law from Lafayette College, where she was selected as a Posse Scholar. A proud Afro-Latina and fully bilingual in Spanish and English, Maria embraces the duality of her race and ethnicity and is energized by learning from people with diverse lived experiences.

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    Jorge Sanchez

    Treasurer

    Jorge Emilio Sanchez is a Minority Scholars Program (MSP) alumnus from the Walter Johnson 2014 Chapter.

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    He credits his family and MSP for helping him become confident in his identity and for creating a safe space to find his voice as a leader. Jorge got his associates degree in Business from Montgomery College and went on to receive his bachelor's degree in Economics from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a minor in Business Management.

    The Minority Scholars Program helped guide his academic and professional journey. At St. Mary’s Jorge did his senior research project on Access to Education in Guatemala with Professor Asif Dowla. After St. Mary’s Jorge moved to Rochester, New York where he started the “Seminarios para Nuestra Comunidad” (Seminars for Our Community). These seminars helped improve access to resources and information for immigrant communities in Upstate New York by partnering up with local non-profits organizations and businesses.

    His passion is giving under represented communities a voice and access to information and education. He was a financial planner with Northwestern Mutual primarily working with the Spanish speaking communities and businesses in Rochester, New York. He is now back in Montgomery County working for JP Morgan Chase as a Private Client Banker. He is a member of the US Guatemala Chamber of Commerce and the Treasurer for MSP.

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    Nicolás Ballón

    Officer of the MSP Board of Directors

    Nico Ballón joined the Minority Scholars Program as a ninth grader in 2013 at Walter Johnson High School and has been involved with the organization ever since. 

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    After seeing first-hand the power of community engagement, leadership, and empathy, Nico pursued a career in politics and activism. Nico has worked in various roles — from intern to Director of Communications — for Representative Karen Bass, Representative Barbara Lee, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Senator Bernie Sanders. Today, he works in the Center for Communications at the National Education Association.

    Nico believes the vision and mission of MSP are critical to forming the leaders of tomorrow — leaders that will continue the fight for a more just world.

    Nico received his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from American University.

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    Kenneth M. Smith, NBCT

    Officer of the MSP Board of Directors

    Kenneth M. Smith is a National Board Certified Teacher and Montgomery County's Washington Post Teacher of the Year for 2018.

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    Kenneth M. Smith is a National Board Certified Teacher and Montgomery County's Washington Post Teacher of the Year for 2018. As a lead teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland's public school system, he has taught a diverse range of courses within the Social Studies discipline. Currently, he teaches Introduction to Sociology, AP African American Studies, and Hip Hop History and Culture—an innovative course he designed specifically for the county that bridges historical analysis with contemporary cultural studies.

    Kenneth's dedication to the MSP is rooted in his pedagogical belief that students must be empowered to develop their authentic voices, enhance their sociocultural consciousness, and become agents of change in a world where their perspectives are often marginalized by traditional societal structures. Through both his innovative curriculum and his advocacy work, he creates spaces where students and educators alike can challenge inequities and reimagine what's possible in education.

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    Corinne M. Goldsmith

    Officer of the MSP Board of Directors

    Corinne Goldsmith is a Howard University graduate. As a recently retired Molecular Biologist from the National Institutes of Health, she specialized in salivary gland dental research of head and neck cancer and Sjogren’s Syndrome patients.

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    Her love for MSP emerged when her daughter became an MSP student organizer in 2015.  As a child who faced racial discrimination in school, she is especially sensitive to the modern day plight of inequities students currently face and wants to eradicate it. Thus, MSP became that opportunity. She became an MSP parent volunteer making sure the students received opportunities, especially educational ones, to support their goals.

    Additionally, the MSP Board of Directors has given Corinne a platform to help students in a broader capacity.  As a member of the fundraising committee, she is  proud to ensure MSP programs are funded so the students and sponsors can reach their goals.

    MSP is very special to her as she is proud to see the students grow to be confident and proud leaders.  Watching students begin as shy young people and develop into public speaking advocates for black and brown students, helps heal her childhood wounds of discrimination.

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    Sunila Varghese

    Officer of the Board of Directors

    Sunila is a recently retired MCPS National Board Certified science teacher and instructional leader with 37 years of experience.  

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    Throughout her distinguished career, she has been unwavering in her commitment to uplifting underrepresented students, advancing inclusive learning environments, and increasing educator diversity.

    Over the years Sunila has actively worked to empower student leadership and student voice. She started and sponsored the Minority Scholars Program at Robert Frost Middle School.  Sunila helped develop and lead the summer internship program for middle school students over the past 3 years.  As a member of the Minority Scholars Executive Committee, Sunila remains deeply committed to the organization’s mission; promoting academic achievement, leadership development, and equity for students of color.

    A founding member of the Montgomery County Public Schools National Board Network of Diversity, Sunila continues to facilitate training and mentoring teachers of color pursuing National Board Certification.  Additionally in retirement, she is teaching a social justice course for McDaniel College, working with an immigrant advocacy group, and traveling whenever she can.

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    Dr. Debra Delavan

    Director of Operations

    Formerly the Secretary of the MSP Board of Directors, Debra currently serves as the Director of Operations of MSP.

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    She is also a Social Studies Classroom Teacher at James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring. MSP Board Member 2020 - July 2025.

    ​Dr. Delavan earned her Ph.D. in Teaching, Learning, and Policy Leadership from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2023 with her dissertation titled, “The Minority Scholars Program Through the Lens of Positive Youth Development and Sociopolitical Development.” 

Student Members of the Board

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    Jude Clayton

    Student Board Member

    Jude Clayton is a student leader and community advocate currently serving as one of the two students on the Board while attending Walt Whitman High School.

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    Jude has been a committed member of the Minority Scholars Program (MSP) for the last three years, including serving in leadership for the Whitman chapter for two years, supporting student-driven initiatives centered around empowerment and equity. In addition to his school-based leadership, Jude is also engaged in countywide advocacy and programming by working as an MSP Summer Intern, collaborating with staff and student leaders in working towards the goals of the program.

    Jude is dedicated to furthering the priorities of the Minority Scholars Program, a student-led initiative working to close the opportunity gap and dismantle inequities and systems of oppression throughout Montgomery County. With a dedication to community, representation, and student voice, Jude is also a member of the Black Brilliance Initiative and engages in the Black Student Union, elevating the voices of Black students and increasing cultural awareness in the school community. Jude continues to support leadership, collaboration, and positive change in Montgomery County.

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    Violet Ikenberry

    Student Board Member

    Violet Ikenberry, a student leader and social justice advocate, is currently serving as one of two student members of the board while attending Rockville High School.

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    Her initiatives include organizing cultural activities, facilitating education on racial equity, and most importantly, creating a close-knit, safe space for students to voice their concerns. In addition to her work at her school, she has been involved in the Minority Scholars Program Summer Internship, connecting with like-minded students to collaborate, further the MSP mission, and create professional development for educators across Montgomery County.

    Violet is deeply committed to the vision of the Minority Scholars Program, firmly believing that a future in which black and brown students no longer face the opportunity gap is possible. She is dedicated to using her voice to draw attention to the systemic inequities in our current education system. This commitment extends to her other community positions, including her role as the Vice President of the Montgomery County Youth NAACP, a Leader in Me ambassador, and a Black and Belonging Collaborator. Violet's primary goal is to educate and empower young people, equipping them with the leadership skills necessary to create lasting, impactful change in their communities.