Board Member Biographies
Board of Trustees Members
Left to right, back row - Sergio, Pedro, Jessica, Paul, Brenda
Left to right, front row - Joselyn, Miranda, Julia, Teresa
Board Members Biography
Brenda Reyes-Lua, President
Brenda Reyes-Lúa serves as the Assistant Director for the Center for Public Service at Gettysburg College. She serves as a guiding member of Casa de la Cultura. Previously, she oversaw services for the Pennsylvania’s Migrant Education Program in Adams County. She has been a resident of Adams County since her arrival in August of 1993 from Michoacán, Mexico. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, awarded in August 2010, with a major in sociology. She is both bilingual and bi-cultural and has worked with the migrant/immigrant population in Adams County since 2006 providing educational and advocacy services to hundreds of families.
Pedro Diaz-Parga, Vice President
Pedro Diaz-Parga is a research scientist investigating proteins involved in the pathogenesis of specific cancers such as lung and pancreatic cancer. Having recently moved from California to Gettysburg he hopes to participate and be more involved in the local community. He is an avid runner who enjoys trail running and local 5k races.
Sergio Luque, Secretary
Sergio Luque is a Foreign Markets Specialist who works fomenting the international control of tax evasion. He has also been responsible for humanitarian logistics and development coordinator on several projects for Latin America. Sergio has lived in different countries in Europe (Spain and Italy), America (Colombia and the USA), and Asia (Taiwan), and is bilingual in Spanish and English. He is passionate about education and has several Master's degrees (including one in Education and one in Economics). Sergio is a fan of music, especially rock and blues from the '40s to the '60s, and he doesn't say no to a good conversation on this subject.
Jessica George, Treasurer
Jessica George is the Co-Founder of zestt organics, a mission-driven brand specializing in organic cotton textile accessories and ethically produced finished goods. Before launching her own business, she worked in higher education administration and leadership consulting. Driven by a passion for both education and entrepreneurship, Jessica is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Management at Virginia Tech, where her research explores reward systems, human resource practices, and the evolving nature of remote work. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, running, and spending time with her husband and son—a proud Vida Cheetah!
Teresa Arias
Teresa Arias was born and raised in Michoacan, Mexico. While living in California, she met her spouse. After getting married in Mexico, they relocated to Pennsylvania. They have two wonderful children, now ages 15 and 12. Both have attended Vida Charter School and one is still enrolled.
Paul R. Miller
Paul currently serves as the Director of the Garthwait Leadership Center at Gettysburg College. He has been working in education and leadership development for over 20 years. He is an experienced teacher, administrator, facilitator and leadership coach. Paul is a parent of three children in the Gettysburg Area School District and serves as a volunteer coach for the Adams County Composite Mountain Biking Team. He holds an MS in Educational Administration and Student Affairs from Baylor University. He is from South Central PA but has called both Texas and Chicago home. When not working with individuals or groups, he is likely tending to animals on his family's homestead or training for his next big adventure race.
Julia Burmistrova,
Julia Burmistrova works as a data engineer, where she uses her skills in analyzing and organizing data. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring hobbies like Crossfit, birdwatching, and gardening. Julia would like to call herself a polyglot one day and has studied Russian, French, and Spanish over the last 15+ years. She is excited to get involved in her local community.
Miranda Harple
Miranda Harple is the Interim Director of the Center for Plant Excellence at Penn State University, where she works with agricultural industries to support research, innovation, and education. She also co-owns a small apple orchard in Adams County, combining her background in marketing, storytelling, and entrepreneurship with her passion for food and agriculture. Miranda and her husband have two children at Vida and enjoy cooking, hiking, and spending time outdoors as a family.
Joselyn Lewis