MEET THE TEAM
Mayanza is made up of a small group of individuals dedicated to giving the people of Santiago Atitlan the resources they need—health, nutrition, education—to empower themselves and their community.
Board of Directors | Founders
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Jami Smith, MPA, MEd, PA-C
Founding Member, Chief Executive Officer and President
Jami is both a dreamer and a planner. Her journey with the community of Santiago began in 2013, when she first arrived as part of a medical outreach team. What started as a single trip quickly became a calling—year after year, Jami has returned, building lasting relationships and working side by side with a dedicated team of volunteers and local women leaders.
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Together, they provide vital health education and are a compassionate presence in the lives of families throughout the region. Driven by the belief that health education empowers communities, Jami continues to dream big — planning initiatives that pave the way for long-term wellness and stronger, healthier communities.
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For Jami, this work is more than service—it’s a privilege. She’s proud to be part of a movement that’s not only improving health outcomes but also empowering the people of Santiago to thrive.
Emilee Thomas, MMS, MPH, MBA, PA-C
Founding Member, Board of Directors
Emilee brings a passion for public health, education, and community-building to everything she does. Since 2015, she has traveled regularly to Guatemala, working side by side with local communities, supporting fundraising initiatives, and recruiting volunteers to support Mayanza’s mission. Emilee works in marketing where she blends clinical insight with strategic thinking to help improve patient outcomes. Based in Chicago, Emilee is energized by opportunities to connect people through shared purpose. She loves exploring, especially new restaurants or neighborhood shops, and finds joy in traveling and championing causes she believes in. Whether around a dinner table or across borders, she’s always seeking creative and meaningful ways to bring people together and make an impact.
Chrystine Zacherau, BS, RN, MA
Member, Board of Directors
Chrystine is a public health strategist and nurse with a passion for equity and evidence-based change. Since her first trip to Guatemala in 2020, she has supported Mayanza through needs assessments that led to updated hygiene resources, fitness equipment and measurement and education programs. She loves exploring Guatemala’s landscapes—earning the nickname “Dusty Tooth” after hiking Acatenango.
Board Members
Melissa Smith
Chief Financial Officer
Melissa brings expertise in financial stewardship to help ensure the organization’s mission is sustained and scaled with integrity. She oversees budgeting, forecasting, and strategic financial planning to support the organization's programs and long-term vision. Passionate about using financial leadership to make a positive impact, Melissa works closely with the executive team to provide transparency, accountability, and smart resource allocation. Her commitment to fiscal responsibility helps keep Mayanza focused on what matters most—empowering Indigenous Mayan women through health education.
Laura Trisch, MS, PA-C
Social Media Director
Laura is a certified Physician Assistant who brings her passion for health equity and storytelling to her role as Social Media Director here at Mayanza. Combining clinical insight with creative communication, she curates content that educates and empowers, highlighting the organization’s work with Indigenous Mayan women. Through strategic storytelling and community-focused posts, Laura helps amplify the mission and connect with audiences in meaningful ways.
Our Team
Dolores “Lola” Ajtujal Chiviliu
Lead Community Health Educator
Lola, a native of Santiago Atitlan, joined the Mayanza team in 2018 as our first community health educator. Educated as a primary school teacher, Lola travels to our four partner schools each week to engage the children in interactive sessions centered around health education topics such as hygiene, nutrition, and exercise, along with tools for managing emotions. In addition, she facilitates our "Madres sanas/Healthy Women" groups for women of the community.
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Lola speaks three languages. Her mother tongue is Tz'utujil, her second language is Spanish, and her third is English. This means she is able to work with a variety of literacy and language levels—an incredible asset to the Mayanza community!
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She dreams of further expanding the education sessions to the parents of the children in this community and to serve even more children. She is thankful for the professional development opportunity to work with Mayanza and improve the health of her community.
Lucía Pablo
Healthy Mothers Program Educator and Embroidery Teacher
Lucía is an educator and trainer for the Healthy Mothers program in Santiago Atitlán.
In 2020, She was a student in the Healthy Women program. After graduating, Mayanza gave her the opportunity to join their team, teaching about healthy education, physical exercise, and embroidery, one of her passions. She feels very happy working with the different groups of women. Every day is a learning experience for Lucía.
*Graduate of our Healthy Mothers Program
Isabel Ajtujal Chiviliu
Community Health Educator
Hello friends! I am Isabel Ajtujal Chiviliu, a teacher, educator, and coach for women. I consider myself a friendly, sociable, active, down-to-earth, empowered, independent, and innovative person. I am committed to creative education, women's empowerment, and a staunch protector of animal rights and nature. In my free time, I enjoy playing soccer, running, walking in nature, and reading books. I currently work for the Mayanza organization as a health educator in public schools, promoting and teaching topics on mental, physical, and emotional health care, hygiene, nutrition, and more. I also work with a group of women where we explore topics on health, empowerment, entrepreneurship, and do different types of exercises to improve our health. My favorite part of my job is socializing and making friends with both children and adults, especially breaking social stereotypes in rural communities. I love the satisfaction that comes from working with my people to achieve positive change and lead a healthy life.
Ana María Mendoza
Community Health Educator
Hello, I'm Ana María, an elementary school teacher who joined the Mayanza team in 2023. I'm originally from Santiago Atitlán and speak Tz'utujil and Spanish. During the week, I travel to four different schools in the community where I teach different topics on education, health, hygiene, emotions, and hydration, providing children with valuable information so they understand that health and the mind are the driving force of our entire body.
Mayanza has given me the opportunity to interact with students of different ages and learn about them. It fills me with satisfaction to see students put our health topics into practice. During the week, I prepare materials that help me express the topics in a creative and fun way with the students. One of my dreams is for Mayanza to have its own space where we can have more students from the community.
Ana Esther Pacach Tzina
Physical Education Trainer
Esther is 27 years old and the mother of a 6-year-old girl and a 1-year-old boy. In her free time, she enjoys playing basketball. Since graduating in the Healthy Mothers program in 2023, she joined the Mayanza team as a physical education coach for two women's groups. She loves exercising, and has noticed an improvement in her physical and emotional health. She enjoys making friends with women, sharing experiences, and encouraging each other to continue improving our healthy lifestyles.
Victoria Hernandez Perez
Physical Education Trainer
Victoria was a student in our inaugural Healthy Mothers class in 2019. She was a star student and over time began to incorporate healthy habits and exercise into her daily life. She joined the team in 2021 as a physical education trainer. As the mother of 5 sons and a daughter, she understands the importance of creating a healthy home environment.
In addition, to working with two Healthy Mothers groups in Tzanchaj and Panul, Victoria is the president of the women's group of the human rights organization of San Lucas Tolimán. In 2021, she obtained a diploma in socio-political training at the Rafael Landívar University. She is the president of the relief society at the departmental level helping pregnant and lactating women to reduce malnutrition,. She is very happy for the opportunity to work with Mayanza.
*Graduate of our Healthy Mothers Program
María Ajtujal Chiviliu
Physical Education Trainer
María is a Mayan woman, mother of four, sister, and passionate entrepreneur. Through La Cocina de Yaliy, she not only shares traditional recipes full of history and flavor, but also a deep commitment to her community. She firmly believes in the power of women and works every day to be a model for a supportive and sustainable economy. She is inspired to support other women in taking care of their physical and mental health by promoting exercise, conscious eating, and self-esteem. With every dish she prepares and every project she promotes, María spreads strength, tradition, and hope.
*Graduate of our Healthy Mothers Program​
María Tacaxoy Coquix
Program Support
As a proud mother and valued member of our team, María brings care and dedication to everything she does. She supports the flow of our office and lovingly maintains our outdoor spaces, ensuring they are welcoming, clean, and functional for staff, volunteers, and community members alike. Her understated hard work helps to make our mission possible—one thoughtful detail at a time.
*Graduate of our Healthy Mothers Program