Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of Zamorano is composed of people of various nationalities and professions, all recognized trajectory who share common ideas, commitments, and altruistic purposes for the benefit of Latin America, its youth, and the development of their countries.

They have a high sense of philanthropy, they are volunteers who donate time, knowledge, experience, image and even their own financial resources. They have come to promote and accompany the constant progress of the institution, being responsible for the evolution of the last years of the institution.

Mr. Peterson is Chairman of Zamorano's Board of Trustees. Raised in Panama, he has over 30 years of experience in the private equity investment industry in Latin America.  He is currently an independent advisor and member of several boards and committees associated with companies, academic institutions and investment funds in the region.  He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and holds an MBA from Wharton and an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.  He lives in Costa Rica and has been a Zamorano Trustee since 2014.

You can read more about his experience at LinkedIn.

Erik Peterson

Dr. Stone was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 1997. She holds a M.A. in Education and Sociology and a Ph.D. in Communications, Political Science and Education, both from Tulane University's Department of Latin American Studies. His career includes roles at the Center for Political Administrative Research and Training (CIAPA) in San Jose, Costa Rica, as well as in the Department of Education and Latin American Studies at Tulane University. Before retiring in 2006, she was co-owner and General Manager of UNIMER S.A. de C.V. in El Salvador. Today she serves as an active member of several Boards of institutions related to Art, Culture and Education.

Alison Stone

Mr. Falck was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1990, serving as treasurer and chairman of the board (2004-2011). A native of Elmira, New York, he resided in Guatemala from 1972 to 1986, during which time he undertook a cattle and rubber project and managed a coffee plantation plus other crops such as macadamia nuts. Mr. Rick Falck has served on several boards such as president of the American Foundation of the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Chairman of Arnot Realty Corporation and director of a regional bank. In 1999, he received an honorary doctorate in education from La U del Valle de Guatemala. Lives in Colorado and often travels to Guatemala and Honduras.

Frederick Falck

Professor and Inaugural Chair of the Department of Global Development at Cornell University Was appointed a Trustee of the Zamorano Board of Trustees in 2022. Her research focuses on the social and environmental implications of the consumption of disposable materials and the global trade in used goods. Gender is a recurring theme in her studies. Leonard has held residencies at the Rockefeller Foundation in Bellagio, Italy and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C.

Lori Leonard

Mr. Voswinckel joined the Board of Trustees in 1995 and presently serves as Treasurer of the University Foundation. Originally from Hamburg, Germany, he has more than four decades of experience in banking and finance in Latin America. He has held senior management positions as Managing Director and CFO of Dresdner Bank Lateinamerika and UBS, Bahamas. He has lived many years in the region and traveled the sub-continent extensively. His experience ranges from commercial banking to wealth management, giving him a comprehensive perspective of management and organization. He resides in Guatemala.

Richard Voswinckel

Mr. Luzuriaga is a member of the Zamorano Board of Trustees. A graduate of Zamorano in the class of 1989, he brings over 33 years of experience in agribusiness and the Latin American banking sector. As CEO and member of the Board of Directors of Corporación Latin American Agribusiness Development (LAAD), he has played a key role in the development and management of projects in the region. His commitment to Zamorano and his vast experience make him an invaluable asset to the Board since his appointment in 2017.

Óscar Luzuriaga

Honduran and Zamorano Alumni of class '85. Her professional resume is extensive, as she has held management positions in companies in Honduras and Spain. Since graduating from Zamorano, she has visited the campus frequently. As a trustee, she supports the development of strategies to attract more women to the university's student population and faculty. She also helps to strengthen partnerships with graduates. As a Honduran and recognized businesswoman, she helps to further strengthen ties with the public and private sectors in her country.

Lucia Ruíz Cabús de García

Dr. Daniel Sniff is a planning and architectural expert with over 40 years of experience. He holds advanced degrees from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Brenau University. As a former Associate Vice President at the University of Georgia, Daniel managed $2.18 billion in assets, the largest growth in the institution's history. His notable work includes master plans for the University of Florida, the University of Tennessee and Georgia Gwinnett College, as well as contributions to the Atlanta Brain Train initiative. Daniel is a registered architect in Georgia, NCARB certified and is affiliated with the Association of University Architects, and the Sigma Lambda Alpha and Sigma Pi Kappa honorary societies.

Daniel Sniff

With over two decades of experience in international development, Mr. Flor is currently a Senior Agricultural Development Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Previously, he held leadership positions at various institutions including the Rockefeller Foundation, the Earth Institute at Columbia University, Ecom Trading, and the MDG Center for West and Central Africa. Rafael joined the Zamorano Board of Trustees in 2021. He holds a master's degree in public administration from Columbia University and a degree in agricultural engineering from EAP, Zamorano. His visionary leadership and vast experience are critical to driving transformational change and advancing global sustainable development agendas.

Rafael Flor

Mr. Koyner is an agronomist with an M.S. in Agribusiness from the University of Florida and Secretary of the Zamorano Board of Trustees. He is noted for his agricultural operations in Panama, especially in coffee and cocoa, and his interest in mountain tourism. Experience in coffee production, processing and roasting for export to multiple continents. Former President of the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama, as well as representative before the SCA. Nationally and internationally recognized for his clean and sustainable coffee production and for the quality of his coffee in national and international competitions, including the title "Producer of the Best Coffees of the Year".

Ricardo Koyner

Enjoying partial retirement after an extensive career in manufacturing, he joins the Zamorano Board of Trustees from 2022. He is noted for leading for 27 years in the composites industry, building a company with annual capacity of 50 million square feet. He brings experience as a board member and business advisor. In 2000, he led a Minnesota initiative that increased the sales tax, generating $450 million annually for habitat, clean water, parks and cultural preservation. A graduate of the School of Life, he is married to Amy Hartwell, travels extensively, and enjoys birding and gardening. He has a family of 7 children and 8 grandchildren.

David Hartwell

Mr. Nealon is a retired U.S. diplomat with a 33-year diplomatic career in 10 countries. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Honduras (2014-2017) and held various positions in the Department of Homeland Security. Writer and lecturer on immigration policy and U.S. policy in Central America. He was also a fellow at the Wilson Center and the Bush Institute.

He promotes justice in Honduras through the Association for a More Just Society and has served on the Fulbright Commission and international school boards. He resides in New Hampshire with his wife Kristin and they have four adult children. He has been a member of the Zamorano Board of Trustees since 2024.

James Nealon

Mr. Watson, appointed to the Zamorano Board of Trustees in 2015 is the current CEO of Best Home SA, Pakaunabau and La Querencia and an outstanding leader with over 37 years of experience in the business sector. Graduated in Zootechnical Engineering from the Agrarian University of La Molina and with an MBA from the Escuela Superior de Administración y Negocios in Lima, Peru. He has held key roles in international companies such as Yanbal and Confiteca C.A. He stands out for his development of effective compensation systems to align behaviors with business objectives.

Robert Watson

Ruy Merriam has an extensive background in finance, entrepreneurship and business management, leading and advising companies in sectors such as education, fintech, real estate, vehicle leasing and financial services. He began his career on Wall Street, working in leveraged finance and private equity with SG Cowen Securities and Deutsche Bank. He has more than 20 years at the helm of the Macris School in Honduras. He is co-founder and Director of GINIH Technologies, a fintech startup in Honduras, and Director at AVESA, AVIS operator in Honduras, Guatemala and Belize, and serves on the boards of Fomento Financiero SA and the Museo de Identidad Nacional de Honduras, aligning with the mission of promoting integral development and excellence.

Ruy Merriam

Mr. Marvin Moncada is a member of the Board of Trustees of our university since 2024. With over 10 years of experience in food processing, he is an Assistant Professor at NC State University. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Food Science and Nutrition from LSU. Noted for his dedication and project management, Marvin has published in prestigious journals and presented at conferences. His knowledge and resources have made him a highly respected figure in his field.

Marvin Moncada

Emeritus Trustees

Duncan Cameron

Cameron LLP
Washington, DC, Estados Unidos

Fernando Paiz

CIDCO, S.A.
Guatemala, Guatemala

Francille Firebaugh

Columbus, Ohio, Estados Unidos

Fred Sutton

James Hughes

President Boston Andes Capital, LLC
Boston, Massachusetts, Estados Unidos

John Crowley

Professor and MEPD Director, University of Georgia
Estados Unidos

Kate Semerad Bakker

Washington, DC, Estados Unidos

Luis Bakker

President / CEO PRONACA, C.A.
Quito, Ecuador

Mario Nufio Gamero

Manager - San Isidro
El Paraiso, Honduras

Price Peterson

Hacienda La Esmeralda
Boquete, Chiriqui, Panama

Samuel Cabot

President / CEO of Samuel Cabot, Inc.
Beverly Farms, Massachusetts, Estados Unidos

Alice Pell

Cornell University
Estados Unidos

Carlos Mesa

Iluma Alliance
Colombia

Frank Almaguer

US Embassy in Honduras
Estados Unidos