Leslie Schuld, President

Co-founder of CIS, August 1993, Executive Director since 1997. Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Dayton and Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Peace Education from the University of El Salvador, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.  

Leslie has worked in solidarity with the people of El Salvador and refugees from the civil war since 1981.   She was the Program Director of the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) during the negotiations to end the armed conflict in El Salvador.

She was responsible for discussions with other solidarity organizations and social organizations In El Salvador to create the CIS as a non-profit organization to accompany the process post war to implement the Peace Accords, reconstruction and foment solidarity and empowerment with the most marginalized and excluded communities.

Lissandra Soriano, Vice-President

From Guacotecti, Cabanas, Civil Engineer, graduated from the University of El Salvador.

Mariano Menendez, Legal Representative.

From San Pedro Perulapan, graduate in Business Administration from the University of El Salvador.

Héctor Díaz, Secretary.

Hector was a CIS scholarship recipient in the Municipality of Mejicanos.  He graduated with a career in Public Accounting and Business Administration in 2018.

During his studies Hector was a victim and survivor of social violence. Now with his experience, he forms part of the CIS Scholarship Committee in Mejicanos together with the San Francisco de Asis Parish, mentoring other youth with scarce economic resources to overcome poverty, develop as leaders and practice values of solidarity and build a culture of peace. He has represented the CIS Scholarship and Leadership Development Program with the Sister Parish of St. Peters in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Arnulfo Meléndez, Treasurer.

Arnulfo is part of the CIS Scholarship and Leadership Development Program, currently studying a degree in Public Accounting at the University of El Salvador.

He forms part of the CIS Scholarship Committee and Coordinates the local Committee for Protection of the Environment in his hometown of San Jose Palo Grande in Suchitoto. He represented the CIS Scholarship and Youth Leadership Development Program in an encounter with St. Elizabeth Parish in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Cathy Howell, First at Large Member.

Cathy graduated with a degree in Sociology from the University of Pittsburg and by career is a retired union organizer from the United States.

Cathy came to CIS and El Salvador to study Spanish and to volunteer as an English teacher in 2012. Later she became the volunteer Communications Coordinator for several CIS International Election Observer Missions. She is now a permanent resident in El Salvador and collaborates with various CIS programs. She also works for electoral transparency in the United States.

Geovanny Flores, Second at Large Member.

From San Rafael Cedros, Architect and Urban Development Engineer, graduate of the Federal University of Latin American Integration (UNILA) in Brazil.