The Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF), Mercer County’s primary resource hub for the immigrant community, today announces the appointment of its new Executive Committee, effective as of June 22nd, 2026. This new slate of leadership includes Cynthia Martinez (President), Jason Scott Camilo, Esq. (Vice President), Mark Looney (Secretary), and Steven Gamboa (Treasurer). 

Incoming President, Cynthia Martinez, serves as an Assistant Professor of Spanish and Latinx Studies at Rider University. Ms. Martinez holds a doctorate in Hispanic literature from Indiana University, as well as a bachelors in Spanish from Murray State University and a master’s in Spanish from the University of Louisville. 

Jason Scott Camilo, Esq., LALDEF Vice President, is the Founder and Principal of the Law Offices of Jason Scott Camilo. Mr. Camilo holds a Juris Doctorate from Temple Law as well as a BA in Administration of Justice from Pennsylvania State University. 

Mark Looney, LALDEF Secretary, serves as the Director of Contract Operations at Earnst and Young. He holds a Doctorate of Law from Nova Southeastern University, as well as a BA in Natural Sciences from Johns Hopkins University. 

Steven Gamboa, LALDEF Treasurer, is a licensed CPA with Lear and Pannepacker, LLP. He holds a Masters of Accountancy and a BS in Accounting from Rider University. 

LALDEF is also pleased to share the appointment of two new members to its Board of Trustees. Joining will be Richard Sperry, Chief Strategy Officer at GBS | CIPD Foundation International, as well as Catherine Quinlan, a former Spanish teacher at Princeton Day School. In addition, three former LALDEF Executive Officers, Pete Taft, Sasa Olessi Montaño, and Jonathan Lear, will remain as Members Emeritus. 

“We are delighted to be ushering in this dynamic slate of leadership,” says Cecy Jimenez-Weeast, LALDEF Executive Director. “With expertise spanning law, academia, finance, and more, we could not ask for a better or more qualified team to help steward and grow our organization throughout this next chapter. A visionary group united by a shared passion for immigrant justice, we could not be more excited for what the future of LALDEF holds.”