Meet the Team

Liliana Quintero has served as the Executive Director of the Northern Indiana Hispanic Health Coalition (NIHHC) since 2005. She is responsible for the supervision, management, and operation of the Elkhart and Warsaw offices. She holds a BS in electrical engineering, an MSc in industrial engineering, and an MBA from Indiana University-South Bend (IUSB). A native of Bogotá, Colombia, she came to the United States to complete her MBA and chose to stay and work to empower community members to take charge of their health. Through her leadership directing NIHHC’s educational programs and health services, thousands of community members in northern Indiana have been given a “second chance” at improved health. She actively remains at the forefront of health care initiatives that respond to the unique needs of the community and regularly serves on committees addressing preventative healthcare in the region. She is a tireless advocate for the health and well-being of the Hispanic community in Northern Indiana.

 Ms. Quintero’s work has been recognized through several awards, including IUSB’s Unsung Latina Heroine Award for Northern Indiana, the American Heart Association’s Heart Hero honor, and the YWCA’s Woman of Service Award. She has served on Goshen Hospital’s board of directors since 2017 and on the Goshen Health Community Benefit Fund’s committee since 2018. In 2019, Ms. Quintero received a Key to the City of Elkhart from Mayor Timothy Neese for her undying commitment and public service to and for the children of Elkhart, with special recognition of the Healthy Hearts program, for which Ms. Quintero wrote and published the curriculum. Ms. Quintero also received the Thomas Atkins Recognition for Minority Business Leader Award in 2019 from Junior Achievement of Elkhart County and was inducted into their Business Legacy Hall of Fame. Only ten Elkhart County community members receive such awards for induction into the Business Legacy Hall of Fame each year, in honor of their leadership, outstanding professional achievement, and dedication to important civic causes.

Kumud Krishna joined the NIHHC team in May 2020, bringing a combined sixteen years of experience in research, outreach, and advocacy in the nonprofit field and in small business management. She has spent her career working toward community empowerment and equality in areas essential to well-being, such as education, housing, and healthcare. Kumud experienced NIHHC’s positive impact when her children began participating in NIHHC’s annual futsal tournament in 2017. Prior to her current role at NIHHC, she served as the Program Coordinator. As the Grant Coordinator and Executive Assistant, she writes and manages grants and assists with all aspects of program operations. Kumud holds a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University in anthropology and child development, and she has completed master’s level work at Columbia University in philosophy of education and education policy.

Sheng Ang joined the NIHHC team in December 2022 as the Data Analyst. Originally from Pahang, Malaysia, Sheng completed his bachelor’s degree in data science from Western Michigan University in May 2021. Sheng was first connected with NIHHC in his previous job when he was tasked to design a dashboard and improve reporting efficiency for the Healthy Hearts program. Now, he is using his passion for data, along with his process improvement experiences, to inform NIHHC’s decision-making and drive organizational efforts to improve the health and well-being of the community.

Luna ­Avila is the Student Services Coordinator at Goshen College. She supports different areas in student life: housing, health and wellness, campus safety, convo, and chapel; she also serves as a commuter student advisor and works to establish activities that create an inclusive environment with all areas of student life and residential students. Luna has worked with NIHHC seasonally since 2006 and has collaborated in their health fairs, annual futsal tournament, and the Por Tu Familia, Bienvenido, and Healthy Hearts programs. She truly believes in the mission of NIHHC and especially in the hard work that its Executive Director, Liliana Quintero, and all those who lead this organization have done in creating programs, health fairs, and classes. As a community health worker, Luna puts to use her years of experience working along with NIHHC to achieve a healthier community.

Jimmy Dixon is an English Language Collaborator at Goshen High School, where he helps students overcome the language barrier in assisting them with their assignments and projects. Jimmy also has experience in teaching adult Spanish classes at Goshen College. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Indiana University. Jimmy has been a part of NIHHC since 2008. He has collaborated in different community health fairs as a volunteer and worked at various COVID-19 testing sites, connecting community members with resources and providing education regarding NIHHC’s programs and services. As a community health worker, Jimmy enjoys and is committed to seeking ways to help individuals thrive emotionally, mentally, and physically in their lives.

Nelly Jimenez has worked with NIHHC since 2019 in many capacities, including as an assistant for the Healthy Hearts and Por Tu Familia programs, as a facilitator for the Bienvenido program, and as an interpreter at health fairs and COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics. Originally from Aguascalientes, Mexico, Nelly studied organizational communication at Autonomous University of Aguascalientes. Nelly likes to be in contact with people in her community and help others as much as she can. She feels strongly that in life, we all need something or someone else. At health clinics, she is especially happy to know that she can help people who do not otherwise have the financial resources for health screenings or vaccinations. She experiences joy in receiving feedback from community members at health fairs and in seeing children’s faces light up with excitement during Healthy Hearts. In addition to her excellent organizational and communication skills, Nelly brings dedication and compassion to NIHHC’s programs and services.

Cesar Lopez has been involved with NIHHC since 2021. He began his journey during his senior year of high school as a volunteer, giving his time and effort at COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics. Eager to connect with others, committed, and quick to learn, Cesar soon became a member of NIHHC’s core COVID-19 staff. After graduating from Elkhart High School, he expanded into working in the office in September 2022. Since then, he has continued to serve as an interpreter at health fairs and COVID-19 clinics. In addition, he is an assistant for the Healthy Heart’s program and assists with data management for all of NIHHC’s programs and services. Cesar is passionate about building trust and ensuring people in his community feel comfortable and welcomed at NIHHC’s events. He enjoys engaging with families and other community members to increase access to health care services and improve the well-being of his community.

Lorena Morgan is a fourth-year student at Central Michigan University majoring in Public Health Education and Spanish. A Northern Indiana native, Lorena began her experience with NIHHC as a summer intern in 2022, taking on an in-depth data analysis project for the Bienvenido program and supporting the COVID-19 vaccination clinics and other outreach events. While at NIHHC, she completed her certification as a Community Health Worker. She has continued her involvement in NIHHC’s programs and services, assisting with data management and community engagement at NIHHC’s health clinics. Lorena plans to pursue a graduate program in community health, behavioral health, or medical anthropology. She aspires to improve minority health and health disparities through designing and implementing community health interventions.

Dr. Zuleyja Prieto holds an MD degree from Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Mexico. As a practicing medical doctor, she has 16 years of experience in the family practice setting, as well as in business management and translation and interpretation services. She maintains a holistic approach to health, applying extensive experience and training in massage therapy, aromatherapy, yoga, and meditation to serve her patients. Dr. Prieto has been a part of NIHHC since 2019. She has worked as a program coordinator and is currently the medical screenings coordinator. In addition, she is a facilitator for the Bienvenido and Healthy Hearts programs, and she answers NIHHC’s COVID-19 hotline, providing education and referrals and assisting with clinical and mental health issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Prieto feels a generous call to service and is passionate about learning, medicine, and health. As a community health worker, educational program facilitator, and health care professional, she approaches each individual with attention, compassion, intuition, and knowledge; she is committed to seeing them as whole and offering them an integrative approach to life and healing.