Melissa R. Lujan was born and raised in Oklahoma and has dedicated her professional career to serving immigrant families and advocating for equitable access to legal representation. A proud alumna of the University of Oklahoma, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (2000) and later her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law (2007), where she specialized in immigration law.

For nearly a decade, Melissa has represented clients in immigration proceedings, including removal defense, asylum applications, and petitions for benefits such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Green Cards, and Citizenship. Her practice also encompasses related areas of law that frequently affect immigrant families, including family law, criminal defense, and DUI representation.

As Board Chair and President of Puentes y Puertas Dual-Language Community School, Melissa brings both her legal expertise and her deep personal commitment to advancing opportunities for Hispanic and immigrant families in Oklahoma City. Her professional background equips her to provide strong governance, ensure compliance, and advocate for the school’s mission to prepare students to be bilingual, biliterate, and academically successful.

Languages: English and Spanish (bilingual)

Danilo Cifuentes brings more than 15 years of experience in residential construction and over 5 years in commercial construction management, complemented by a strong background in engineering, project management, and business strategy. His professional career spans leadership roles in both construction and petroleum industries, where he supported multiple companies in Oklahoma with engineering and operational expertise.

Currently serving as an Assistant Project Manager with Nabholz Corporation, Danilo focuses on delivering innovative, sustainable, and impactful building solutions. He also serves as Chairman of CV Rentals LLC and contributes to the professional community through his role in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) OKC Professional Chapter, where he supports business development initiatives.

Danilo’s academic background includes an Engineering degree in Construction from the Universidad Rafael Landívar, additional graduate study in Structural Engineering at Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Southern Nazarene University. He also completed specialized training in construction management at Francis Tuttle Technology Center and holds professional certifications in project management and SolidWorks.

Beyond his professional and academic accomplishments, Danilo is deeply committed to philanthropy and community service. For more than a decade, he has helped organize annual initiatives in Guatemala that provide more than 10,000 meals and distribute over 3,000 toys to children each year. His personal values of service, integrity, and leadership extend to his role as Treasurer on the Board of Puentes y Puertas Dual-Language Community School, where he provides financial oversight and contributes to advancing the school’s mission.

Languages: English and Spanish (bilingual)

Daniel Ramirez-Caro is a bilingual geologist and community leader with more than a decade of experience in the energy industry. He currently serves as a Senior Geologist at Devon Energy in Oklahoma City, where he leads complex projects and collaborates with multicultural teams to deliver large-scale development initiatives. His prior roles include technical and leadership positions with Camino Natural Resources, Ovintiv, Newfield Exploration, and Concho Resources.

Daniel holds a Master of Science in Geology from Kansas State University and a Bachelor of Engineering in Geology from the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua. During graduate school, he earned multiple awards for research, including first place in the Physical Sciences Division at the Kansas State Research Forum and a Grant-in-Aid from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG). He has presented nationally and co-authored publications on petroleum geology and rare earth elements in Oklahoma’s Woodford Shale.

Deeply rooted in his Mexican heritage and fully bilingual in English and Spanish, Daniel is passionate about education, bilingualism, and community development. He has served on nonprofit boards and continues to volunteer with organizations in Mexico and Oklahoma, including support for orphanages, fundraising events, and church leadership. He envisions expanding opportunities for Hispanic students in STEM fields and is committed to advancing Puentes y Puertas’ mission to open doors through dual-language education.

Languages: English (native/bilingual proficiency), Spanish (native/bilingual proficiency)

Community & Volunteer Service:

Board Member, The Journey (2021–2022)

Financial Supporter, Orfanatorio Lirio de los Valles (2015–present)

Volunteer, Devon Energy Give For Good Fundraising Campaigns (2025)

Volunteer Drummer, Discovery Church (2023–present)

Professional Affiliations:

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) – Member

Geological Society of America – Member

Kansas Geological Society – Member

President, AAPG Student Chapter, Kansas State University (2012–2013)

Luis Hidalgo is a community leader with nearly a decade of experience advancing economic development, social advocacy, and public health initiatives in South Oklahoma City. He currently serves as Director of Community Outreach at Michael Brooks-Jiménez, P.C., where he oversees the firm’s engagement strategies and builds partnerships with local organizations, nonprofits, and community leaders to strengthen community impact. In this role, he also works closely with the Oklahoma Legislative Latino Caucus, supporting communications and outreach efforts that amplify the voices of Hispanic and immigrant families.

Previously, Luis served as Director of Economic Development for Scissortail Community Development Corporation, where he managed initiatives focused on strengthening small businesses, expanding opportunities for Latino entrepreneurs, and driving neighborhood revitalization. Prior to that, he worked at the Latino Community Development Agency as a Program Coordinator, where he led culturally competent health education and prevention campaigns across Oklahoma City and Tulsa, including bilingual tobacco cessation and public health programs funded by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Luis brings to the Puentes y Puertas board a strong background in community organizing, message development, and program management, combined with hands-on experience in nonprofit leadership and public engagement. His bilingual skills (English and Spanish) and long-standing commitment to South Oklahoma City ensure that the school’s governance remains deeply connected to the families and neighborhoods it will serve.

Languages: English and Spanish (bilingual)

Hilda De Leon Xavier is a bilingual community leader with a strong record of advancing educational access, cultural preservation, and nonprofit leadership in Oklahoma City’s Hispanic community. She currently serves as Director of the Holy Angels Education Center, where she has overseen the full renovation of facilities, the launch of diverse adult education programs, and the development of partnerships that bring ESL, financial literacy, U.S. citizenship preparation, and digital literacy classes to immigrant families.

In addition to her role at Holy Angels, Hilda is the Founder and Director of Guatemaltecos en Oklahoma Association, a nonprofit dedicated to cultural celebration, advocacy, and community support for Guatemalan families. She also has long-standing experience as an Outreach Coordinator for the World Experiences Foundation, where she has facilitated multicultural lessons across Oklahoma public schools, and as a clinical clerk and interpreter at the Oklahoma City-County Health Department, where she provided bilingual services and assisted families in navigating public health resources. Earlier in her career, she worked as a bilingual assistant at Harding Middle School, supporting teachers and students in multilingual classrooms.

Hilda is deeply involved in community organizing and cultural initiatives, including Cultura Eterna Primavera Folklore Guatemalteco and the Guatemala Pageant Oklahoma, helping to strengthen cultural identity and intergenerational connection. Her leadership experience includes program management, volunteer coordination, fundraising, branding, and social media outreach.

Languages: English and Spanish (bilingual)

Rodolfo Quilantán-Arenas has served in the Mexican Foreign Service for more than three decades, with assignments spanning the United States, Mexico, and Latin America. His distinguished diplomatic career includes serving as Consul of Mexico in Los Angeles, Brownsville (TX), and Little Rock (AR), with consular jurisdiction over 49 counties in Oklahoma. In these roles, he provided direct support to tens of thousands of Mexican nationals, developed cross-border partnerships in education, health, and commerce, and represented Mexico in bilateral discussions on immigration, economic development, and cultural exchange.

Over his career, Quilantán-Arenas has been recognized for expanding mobile consulate services that brought essential identification, legal, and health resources directly to immigrant families who could not travel long distances to consular offices. He has advocated for immigrant rights at both the community and international level, working with the United Nations, U.S., and Mexican authorities on humanitarian issues including family separations, asylum processes, and protections for Mexican nationals in detention centers.

In addition to his immigration and protection work, Quilantán-Arenas has been a champion of binational cooperation in education, research, and innovation. Through initiatives such as the Bilateral Forum on Higher Education, Innovation, and Research (FOBESII), he has supported efforts to expand student exchange and academic mobility between U.S. and Mexican universities, strengthening human capital and competitiveness in North America.

As a board member of Puentes y Puertas Dual-Language Community School, Quilantán-Arenas contributes his extensive expertise in diplomacy, international relations, cultural advocacy, and community engagement, ensuring that the school remains deeply connected to the diverse immigrant families it will serve.

Languages: Spanish (native), English (fluent)