EARTH University Trust Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is comprised of members of the Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Foundation Board. It has the responsibility to manage the endowments and approve funds for carrying out the University’s objectives.

Members

Alan Kelso


Position: Chair

Country: Costa Rica

Alan Kelso is the CEO of Ecodesarrollo Papagayo, S.A.; Chairman and CEO of the Sinergo Development Group; as well as the CEO of Desarrollos NHD, S.A.; Hotelera Cali, S.A; Marina de Herradura, S.A; and Datagrama Comunicaciones, S.A. Under his leadership the Global Industrial Park, Papagayo Peninsula, Marriott Costa Rica Hotel, Los Sueños Marriott Beach & Gold Resort, Hyatt Place Hotel, and Hyatt Andaz in Papagayo were developed. In addition to his service on the EARTH University Board of Directors, he contributes to the improvement of education in Guanacaste province of Costa Rica through his work with the Growing Together for the Development of Guanacaste Association.

Alejandra Cobb


Position: Secretary

Country: Costa Rica

Alejandra Cobb is currently an independent business and strategy consultant and active member of the Board of Directors of UNIFOOD Holding, one of Chile’s most important gastronomic operators, and member of the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees of EARTH University. As an executive with Procter & Gamble (P&G) for over 15 years, she held multiple regional leadership roles in Latin America and Europe in the areas of corporate affairs, government relations, sustainability, and communications.  She served the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica for 4 years, as an International Trade Negotiator in various bilateral, regional and multilateral trade negotiations, culminating her service there as Adjunct Chief Negotiator for the “Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement” (CAFTA).  She has contributed to multiple Boards of Directors for business and nonprofit organizations chambers and associations in Costa Rica and Spain. Most prominent, the Costa Rican Free Trade Zone Association (AZOFRAS), United Way Costa Rica (Asociación de Empresarial para el Desarrollo – AED), Advisor Counsel of Technology for Costa Rica (CAATEC), the Spanish Soap and Detergent Association (ADELMA) and the Spanish Advertising Self-Regulatory Organization (AUTOCONTROL), amongst others.  She earned a BA and MBA from the University of Costa Rica and carried out Trade Diplomacy studies at the Center for Trade Policy and Law in Ottawa, Canada. 

Erika Gonzalez-Akre


Position: Treasurer

Country: United States/Venezuela

Erika Gonzalez-Akre is a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI). The SCBI is the leading branch from the Smithsonian dedicated to save wildlife species from extinction and train future generations of conservationists. Erika’s research focuses on tree ecology, botany and conservation biology. Erika grew up in Venezuela and holds a B.S. in Earth Sciences Education (Cum laude, Institute Pedagogico de Caracas, 1997), a M.S. in Geology (Universidad Central de Venezuela, 2002) and a M.S. in Tropical Botany (University de Los Andes, 2007). She also serves on the board of the Virginia Native Plant Society.

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