ELHAN Leadership
The ELHAN leadership team provides strategic direction, resources, and professional expertise to assist with carrying out the mission of the vibrant alumni network that is ELHAN. Our team of dedicated alumni leaders meet regularly to brainstorm ideas on how we can improve and grow the alumni network. Feel free to reach out to them through LifeLongElon with ideas or suggestions for ELHAN or just to say hello!
We are excited for what this year will bring, and with your support, learn how we can positively impact our Latinx/Hispanic community at Elon and beyond. If you are interested in supporting ELHAN’s missions, consider joining our leadership board – please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement for details.
Get to know some of our members, and read about their journey from Elon to where they are now:
President — Coral Zayas '09
Coral Zayas is a 2009 Elon grad and is an award-winning bilingual educator, trainer, and instructional designer. She works across multiple education fields: K-12, higher education, education technology and education policy. She founded Austin Avanza, an equity group focused on the recruitment and retention of educators of color.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being outdoors, exploring new places, and always learning something new. She loves building her global network. You can connect with Coral on Life Long Elon, LinkedIn, or Twitter.
Chief of Staff — Sary Martinez ’19
Originally from Honduras, Sary Martinez is a 2019 graduate currently located in Durham, North Carolina. Sary’s background is in Public Studies with a minor in Business Administration.
During her time at Elon, Sary was a recipient of the Odyssey Scholars program and pursuit her passion for youth development through internships with the Center for Access and Success: “It Takes a Village Project,” and “The Elon Academy.”
During her free time, Sary enjoys exploring her passion for professional development, practicing strength training, and spending time outdoors.
Professional Development Co-Chair — Kevin Amaya '15
Inclusion & Diversity Leader | Human Resource Professional | Job Plus Coach | Advocate in the LGBTQIA+ Community | Active Volunteer
Kevin’s passion stems from helping others become better versions of themselves. He is currently an Inclusion & Diversity Business Lead at GlaxoSmithKline aligned to global efforts in the inclusion and diversity space. He has also led global efforts in volunteerism with local and global nonprofits. Kevin graduated from Elon in 2015 and majored in International Business & Marketing. His favorite memory of Elon is being a Teaching Assistant for Elon Academy in the summers where he would support local high school students get ready for college.
He is from Cali, Colombia and is currently living in Brooklyn, New York. In his personal life, he enjoys playing tennis, blogging about my food adventures and taking road trips with friends and family to local hiking trails.
Professional Development Co-Chair — Carolina Lage '22
Carolina Lage is from Havana, Cuba. She graduated in 2022 with a dual degree on Music Production and Recording Arts, and Piano Performance. At Elon, she served as Co-Chair of Hospitality of the Leading Women in Audio Conference, which helps to close the gap between men and women working in the Audio Industry.
Currently, Carolina lives in the New York City area and works as a production assistant for SixtyFour Music. She also teaches piano both as a private instructor and in Paganini Institute of Music. You can connect with her via Linkedin and Instagram.
Communications Co-Chair — Joyce Llopiz-Martell '21
Joyce Llopis-Martell Moros Nahim is an Elon University Spring 2021 graduate. She graduated with a major in Strategic Communications with a double minor in Sociology and Photography. While attending Elon University, Joyce was involved in many organizations, serving in leadership roles. Some achievements she is proud of are serving as Director of Photography for The Edge Magazine, Vice President for the Latinx Hispanic Union, and becoming a member of Corazones Unidos Siempre, Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc.
Currently, Joyce resides back home in Miami, Fl and is exploring her many different passions. Joyce is Cuban, Venezuelan, and Lebanese and speaks three languages because of it. She has a global perspective on the world since being bicultural and has never identified with just one culture and way of thinking. You can connect with her via LinkedIn and Instagram.
Campus Outreach Co-Chair, Events Team — Gabriela Jimenez ’21
Gaby Jimenez is a 2021 Elon grad majoring in Political Science and minors in Philosophy, Criminal Justice Studies, and Latin American Studies.
While at Elon she was worked as a student coordinator for the CREDE, specifically with El Centro. At El Centro, Gaby was one of the Co-Directors for the 2021 Intersect Conference and was one of the founding members of the Siéntate y Hablemos podcast. Additionally, Gaby served in leadership roles as the President of the Latinx-Hispanic Union, and as a student consultant on the Presidential Working group, which helped reform Elon’s bias report system.
Currently, Gaby is attending law school in New York City, hoping to practice criminal and immigration law in the future. You can connect with her on Linked.
Campus Outreach Co-Chair & Events Team — Jovani Mendez-Sandoval ’22
Jovani Mendez-Sandoval is a 2022 Elon graduate who is originally from Garner, North Carolina. His parents are from Mexico and arrived in the U.S in the late 90’s in hopes for a better life.
At Elon, Jovani majored in economic consulting and minored in leadership studies. Jovani conducted undergraduate research to understand U.S detention centers and was able to publish literature and present his work at different conferences. In addition, Jovani was an orientation leader, RA, president of the consulting club, co-founder of the Underrepresented Business Student Alliance Network and Hermano of the La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity.
In his free time, Jovani loves a good hike, run and planting something new in his garden.
President — Coral Zayas '09
Coral Zayas is a 2009 Elon grad and is an award-winning bilingual educator, trainer, and instructional designer. She works across multiple education fields: K-12, higher education, education technology and education policy. She founded Austin Avanza, an equity group focused on the recruitment and retention of educators of color.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being outdoors, exploring new places, and always learning something new. She loves building her global network. You can connect with Coral on Life Long Elon, LinkedIn, or Twitter.
Chief of Staff — Sary Martinez ’19
Originally from Honduras, Sary Martinez is a 2019 graduate currently located in Durham, North Carolina. Sary’s background is in Public Studies with a minor in Business Administration.
During her time at Elon, Sary was a recipient of the Odyssey Scholars program and pursuit her passion for youth development through internships with the Center for Access and Success: “It Takes a Village Project,” and “The Elon Academy.”
During her free time, Sary enjoys exploring her passion for professional development, practicing strength training, and spending time outdoors.
Professional Development Co-Chair — Kevin Amaya '15
Inclusion & Diversity Leader | Human Resource Professional | Job Plus Coach | Advocate in the LGBTQIA+ Community | Active Volunteer
Kevin’s passion stems from helping others become better versions of themselves. He is currently an Inclusion & Diversity Business Lead at GlaxoSmithKline aligned to global efforts in the inclusion and diversity space. He has also led global efforts in volunteerism with local and global nonprofits. Kevin graduated from Elon in 2015 and majored in International Business & Marketing. His favorite memory of Elon is being a Teaching Assistant for Elon Academy in the summers where he would support local high school students get ready for college.
He is from Cali, Colombia and is currently living in Brooklyn, New York. In his personal life, he enjoys playing tennis, blogging about my food adventures and taking road trips with friends and family to local hiking trails.
Professional Development Co-Chair — Carolina Lage '22
Carolina Lage is from Havana, Cuba. She graduated in 2022 with a dual degree on Music Production and Recording Arts, and Piano Performance. At Elon, she served as Co-Chair of Hospitality of the Leading Women in Audio Conference, which helps to close the gap between men and women working in the Audio Industry.
Currently, Carolina lives in the New York City area and works as a production assistant for SixtyFour Music. She also teaches piano both as a private instructor and in Paganini Institute of Music. You can connect with her via Linkedin and Instagram.
Communications Co-Chair — Joyce Llopiz-Martell '21
Joyce Llopis-Martell Moros Nahim is an Elon University Spring 2021 graduate. She graduated with a major in Strategic Communications with a double minor in Sociology and Photography. While attending Elon University, Joyce was involved in many organizations, serving in leadership roles. Some achievements she is proud of are serving as Director of Photography for The Edge Magazine, Vice President for the Latinx Hispanic Union, and becoming a member of Corazones Unidos Siempre, Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc.
Currently, Joyce resides back home in Miami, Fl and is exploring her many different passions. Joyce is Cuban, Venezuelan, and Lebanese and speaks three languages because of it. She has a global perspective on the world since being bicultural and has never identified with just one culture and way of thinking. You can connect with her via LinkedIn and Instagram.
Campus Outreach Co-Chair, Events Team — Gabriela Jimenez ’21
Gaby Jimenez is a 2021 Elon grad majoring in Political Science and minors in Philosophy, Criminal Justice Studies, and Latin American Studies.
While at Elon she was worked as a student coordinator for the CREDE, specifically with El Centro. At El Centro, Gaby was one of the Co-Directors for the 2021 Intersect Conference and was one of the founding members of the Siéntate y Hablemos podcast. Additionally, Gaby served in leadership roles as the President of the Latinx-Hispanic Union, and as a student consultant on the Presidential Working group, which helped reform Elon’s bias report system.
Currently, Gaby is attending law school in New York City, hoping to practice criminal and immigration law in the future. You can connect with her on Linked.
Campus Outreach Co-Chair & Events Team — Jovani Mendez-Sandoval ’22
Jovani Mendez-Sandoval is a 2022 Elon graduate who is originally from Garner, North Carolina. His parents are from Mexico and arrived in the U.S in the late 90’s in hopes for a better life.
At Elon, Jovani majored in economic consulting and minored in leadership studies. Jovani conducted undergraduate research to understand U.S detention centers and was able to publish literature and present his work at different conferences. In addition, Jovani was an orientation leader, RA, president of the consulting club, co-founder of the Underrepresented Business Student Alliance Network and Hermano of the La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity.
In his free time, Jovani loves a good hike, run and planting something new in his garden.