Patricia Ramirez is an Austin native, a graduate off Austin's historically Black university, Huston-Tillotson University. Her journey reflects how lived experience can become a catalyst for systemic change.

As Executive Director of ALMA of Austin, Patricia leads efforts to advance educational equity, family engagement, and advocacy for children, youth, and families across Central Texas. Her leadership is informed by both professional expertise and lived experience, fueling her commitment to creating systems that support rather than hinder student success.

For more than 15 years, Patricia has worked with youth involved in the juvenile justice system, both in secure facilities and community-based programs throughout Central Texas. Her work has focused on supporting young people with mental health and special education needs, giving her firsthand insight into the barriers, inequities, and systemic gaps that often prevent students with disabilities from achieving academic success.

Having witnessed these challenges from the inside, Patricia understands how broken systems can derail a young person's future. Rather than accepting those outcomes, she has dedicated her career to advocating for better educational opportunities, improved services, and stronger support systems for youth and families. Her work is rooted in the belief that every child deserves access to the resources, support, and opportunities needed to reach their full potential.

In addition to her leadership at ALMA, Patricia serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Harvest Foundation's Trauma Recovery Center, where she contributes her expertise to advancing trauma-informed care and community healing initiatives.

Patricia is also a commissioned Notary Public, providing online, mobile, and in-person notary services for real estate transactions and a variety of other notarization needs.

An entrepreneur at heart, Patricia was recruited by eBay in March 2026 to host eBay Live events. She operates a successful online resale business and manages live-selling events across several leading resale platforms. Through these efforts, she helps generate financial support for ALMA of Austin, furthering the organization's mission to advocate for equitable educational opportunities and positive outcomes for children, youth, and families.

Whether advocating for students, supporting families, mentoring youth, or building community partnerships, Patricia remains committed to ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to succeed, thrive, and shape their own future.

Alex is a community health worker and social caseworker who earned his master’s degrees in social work and public affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and his undergraduate degree in geography education at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Alex brings not only his expertise in mental health but he offers a new approach to mental health services after experiences in other programs that were focused on numbers and not client needs.

Absolute unit; got us hella cashDr. Sam Sheridan, DHA, MBA

Vice President ALMA

Sam Sheridan was born on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and raised in San Angelo, Texas. With a career spanning upper management roles in banking and loan servicing, Sam brings extensive expertise in operations, leadership, and strategic growth. He currently serves as the Director of Contracts and Procurement for Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Centers (HCMHDD), where he oversees critical procurement functions to support community health and developmental disability services.

Sam holds a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration from Oklahoma State University and an MBA/BBA in Management from the University of Texas at Permian Basin. Beyond his work in healthcare administration and procurement, Sam has been licensed in real estate and mortgage lending for over 20 years. His dedication to excellence earned him recognition as one of the top 50 producing real estate agents in Austin, Texas, in 2016.

Outside of his professional achievements, Sam is deeply committed to his family as a proud father of two boys and one girl. His career reflects his passion for building robust systems, empowering teams, and making a meaningful impact in the communities he serves.

Aisha Ramirez-Dull serves as Treasurer for Alma of Austin, where she brings a strong background in financial stewardship, client service, and operational precision. With extensive experience in the title and escrow industry, Aisha has developed deep expertise in managing complex transactions, ensuring regulatory compliance, and safeguarding financial integrity.  

In her professional role, Aisha is known for her attention to detail, organizational excellence, and commitment to guiding clients through important life decisions with clarity and care. Her work requires a high level of trust, accuracy, and accountability—skills she carries into her nonprofit leadership.

As Treasurer, Aisha oversees Alma of Austin’s financial management, helping ensure transparency, sustainability, and responsible allocation of resources to support families facing financial hardship. She is passionate about community impact and is dedicated to strengthening the organization’s ability to serve and uplift those in need.  

Chantel Pridgon is a native of Austin, Texas and in 2005, received her Bachelor's of Science degree in Criminal Justice & Psychology from Prairie View A&M University, in Prairie View, Texas. Chantel then spent nearly 15 years as an educator in the Austin area. Over the years, life happened and while unemployed and watching the civil unrest happening around police brutality her passion for criminal justice reform was reignited. Volunteering then led to a full time gig as an Organizer with Grassroots Leadership & Texas Advocates foar Justice. Chantel has learned fighting the system is a battle that must be taken on by a collective, “We are better together.”