Staff 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
Great to meet you! Our diverse staff is excited to connect with you.
Click on the plus sign below to check out our staff member's biographies & contact information:
As a former employee of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) and a first-generation college graduate, Johnny takes great pride in being from the Silver State and advocating for equity in college access and success. His experience and passion have allowed him to understand students' various challenges in post-secondary education. His mission is to increase enrollment, retention, and completion in post-secondary institutions for underrepresented populations in Southern Nevada.
He started his career as an Admission Counselor for UNLV, guiding underrepresented students from his hometown in East Las Vegas through one-on-one counseling sessions, financial aid workshops, and college tours. Previous experience also includes time as an Academic Advisor – Transition/Completion Specialist for Nevada State College, strengthening networks between the community colleges and universities within the state of Nevada, and dealing with academic standing and student support services.
Returning to work with students in high school, Johnny was hired as a College Counselor for the Fulfillment Fund Las Vegas, a “to-and-through” College access/success program, where he ultimately was promoted as a College Counseling Manager to lead in the development of the College Access Program. Prior to LIT, He was hired as the first Chief Program Officer for Q3 Student Partners, a social impact venture developing a community-based living-learning program, offering affordable student housing with wrap-around support to pave a path for first-generation students from college to career.
Dominguez currently serves as an advisory board member for Communities in Schools in Southern Nevada as well as for the Industry Leader Advisory Council (ILAC) for the UNLV College of Liberal Arts. Johnny participated in UNLV TRIO in high school as well as being a Student Support Services (SSS) participant in college. Dominguez received his BA in Political Science, M.Ed in Higher Education, and Certificate in Organizational Leadership from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 2022, he was named as a Las Vegas Weekly “40 under 40” honoree and graduate of the Vegas Chamber of Commerce Leadership Las Vegas, class of 22 “Double Deuces”.
He is a proud husband to Celinda Dominguez, a social worker at CORE Academy, who both share a beautiful son together.
Communication can be relayed at jdominguez@litlv.org
He started his career as an Admission Counselor for UNLV, guiding underrepresented students from his hometown in East Las Vegas through one-on-one counseling sessions, financial aid workshops, and college tours. Previous experience also includes time as an Academic Advisor – Transition/Completion Specialist for Nevada State College, strengthening networks between the community colleges and universities within the state of Nevada, and dealing with academic standing and student support services.
Returning to work with students in high school, Johnny was hired as a College Counselor for the Fulfillment Fund Las Vegas, a “to-and-through” College access/success program, where he ultimately was promoted as a College Counseling Manager to lead in the development of the College Access Program. Prior to LIT, He was hired as the first Chief Program Officer for Q3 Student Partners, a social impact venture developing a community-based living-learning program, offering affordable student housing with wrap-around support to pave a path for first-generation students from college to career.
Dominguez currently serves as an advisory board member for Communities in Schools in Southern Nevada as well as for the Industry Leader Advisory Council (ILAC) for the UNLV College of Liberal Arts. Johnny participated in UNLV TRIO in high school as well as being a Student Support Services (SSS) participant in college. Dominguez received his BA in Political Science, M.Ed in Higher Education, and Certificate in Organizational Leadership from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 2022, he was named as a Las Vegas Weekly “40 under 40” honoree and graduate of the Vegas Chamber of Commerce Leadership Las Vegas, class of 22 “Double Deuces”.
He is a proud husband to Celinda Dominguez, a social worker at CORE Academy, who both share a beautiful son together.
Communication can be relayed at jdominguez@litlv.org
Steven Romero, Full-Time Program Manager
Welcome from Mr. Romero (He/Him/His)
I am a former middle school mathematics teacher with the Clark County school district. I was once in your shoes as the first in my family to not only graduate high school, but be first to attend university. I hold two bachelor degrees from the University of California, Riverside in the disciplines of Sociology and Dance. I also hold a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I have over 6 year experience in the field of education and educational outreach. I am excited to join Leaders in Training as a Program Manager to help our community’s Youth become the next generation of trailblazing leaders.
Communication will be relayed through sromero@litlv.org.
Phone number: (702)-449-0703
I am a former middle school mathematics teacher with the Clark County school district. I was once in your shoes as the first in my family to not only graduate high school, but be first to attend university. I hold two bachelor degrees from the University of California, Riverside in the disciplines of Sociology and Dance. I also hold a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I have over 6 year experience in the field of education and educational outreach. I am excited to join Leaders in Training as a Program Manager to help our community’s Youth become the next generation of trailblazing leaders.
Communication will be relayed through sromero@litlv.org.
Phone number: (702)-449-0703
Cynthia Romero, Part-Time Postsecondary Program Manager
Cynthia Romero is a proud first-generation college student, who after graduating with a double major in Chicano Studies and Spanish Linguistics from the University of California, Riverside, has focused a lot of her energy in ensuring educational equity for students in Las Vegas. As someone who grew up as an English Language Learner and became the first in her family to attend college, she understands the need for providing unique support to each and every student to assure they reach both their educational and personal goals. Through her work as an elementary school teacher she has had the privilege to show students at a young age the importance of education and goal setting. She has been able to take those classroom skills and apply them with LIT's post-secondary students as a Program Manager, where now the focus is ensuring college success and giving back to the community. Se habla español.
Miriam Gomez, Part-Time Program Manager
Miriam Gomez is a proud first-generation Latina student whose dream is to become a child psychologist. Being the only child of 5 born in Mexico, her parents strived to give her the same education as her brothers and sisters in the United States. She graduated from Las Vegas High School in 2018 and now attends Nevada State College as a Psychology major with a minor in Counseling. Miriam works part-time at LIT as an Operations Manager and is a Cohort 3 member. Se habla español.
Communication will be relayed through mgomez@litlv.org.
Phone number: (702)-449-0703
Communication will be relayed through mgomez@litlv.org.
Phone number: (702)-449-0703
Ivette Aguirre, Part-Time Program Manager
Ivette Aguirre is a first generation Latinx women determined to make an impact within her community. She graduated Veterans Tribute with a CCR diploma and now attends UNLV’s college of Hospitality at no personal cost. She aspires to make a difference in the world by making connections and eventually expanding Leaders In Training across the country. She hopes that one day L.l.T will be funded by our own alumni and that the stigma around first-generation students’ incapacity to go to college is broken. As a cohort 6, post-secondary member, she believes that L.I.T is creating the leaders who will change the world.
Communication will be relayed through iaguirre@litlv.org.
Phone number: (702)-449-0703
Communication will be relayed through iaguirre@litlv.org.
Phone number: (702)-449-0703
Jesse Cruz is a first generation 2021 high school graduate from Canyon Springs High School currently working towards an Associates degree in Political Science at the College of Southern Nevada. Persevering against all odds as a child of immigrants in a low income household with disabilities, Jesse hopes to run for public office in the state of Nevada and ensure that no other high school students have to struggle like he and his brothers have had to. Jesse serves LIT as a post-secondary coordinator and Cohort 6 member.