Kelby Woodard | President
The Cristo Rey Dallas Board of Directors appointed Kelby Woodard as President of Cristo Rey Dallas in October 2026, bringing him back to a school he helped shape from the very beginning. As a member of the founding team, Woodard helped lay the foundation for Cristo Rey Dallas to open its doors in 2015 as the 30th school in the Cristo Rey Network.
Woodard served as the Founding President of Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep for six years, leading the school from its earliest days to a high-performing college preparatory school serving 470 students. During his tenure, he also led a $25 million capital campaign that resulted in the construction of the school’s state-of-the-art campus. In 2018, his fellow Cristo Rey school presidents elected him to the Cristo Rey Network Board, where he served two terms.
Before returning to Cristo Rey Dallas, Woodard served as President and CEO of the Cristo Rey Network. He previously was Headmaster of Saint Thomas Academy, a Catholic, all-male military leadership high school in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Across these roles, he has developed deep experience in Catholic education, school leadership, fundraising, and advancing mission-driven organizations.
Woodard’s path to education and public service began in Minnesota politics. As a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, he was inspired by students from Cristo Rey Jesuit High School-Twin Cities who testified in support of an education bill he sponsored. During his time in the legislature, he advocated for school choice, served as Minority Lead for Education Finance, and was Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee.
Earlier in his career, Woodard spent 20 years in global security. He served with the U.S. Customs Service in Washington, D.C., and later as Director of Global Security at Target Corporation in Minneapolis, where he designed and implemented a global security program spanning 84 countries and 34 U.S. distribution centers. He subsequently founded Trade Innovations/TRG Direct, a global security consulting and import software company focused on global security and fraud prevention.
Woodard has been recognized in publications ranging from Catholic media to World Customs journals and has served on the boards of organizations including Wingstop Charities, Legatus, and Cristo Rey Fort Worth College Prep.
Woodard holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of North Texas, a Certificate of Global Security Studies from Georgetown University, and an MBA from the University of Dallas.
Connect with Mr. Woodard at kwoodard@cristoreydallas.org.
Emily Garvin-Ligon | Interim Vice President of Advancement
Emily Garvin-Ligon serves as the Major Gifts Officer where she works collaboratively to support major gifts strategy, donor engagement, and philanthropic partnerships that help make a Cristo Rey education accessible for students from families with limited financial resources. Emily brings more than 16 years of experience in nonprofit development, grant writing, and community engagement across the DFW region and nationally.
Emily has made her mark on a wide range of organizations, including Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, the Visiting Nurse Association, Susan G. Komen, and JCPenney Corporate, where she served as Manager of Philanthropy. She also previously served as Chief Development Officer for Youth180, where she secured major grants, strengthened corporate and foundation partnerships, and helped expand mental health and substance-use services for youth throughout North Texas.
A relationship-centered fundraiser, Emily is known for her strategic approach to philanthropy and her commitment to creating life-changing opportunities for young people. She is passionate about connecting generous partners with meaningful missions that strengthen the Dallas community.
Emily graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and a minor in Art History. She lives in Plano with her husband, daughter, their 90-pound dog, and their one-eyed cat. Outside of work, she enjoys watching sports, particularly football, basketball, and track and field, as well as hiking and spending time outdoors.
Connect with Emily at eligon@cristoreydallas.org.
Dr. Nivea L. Torres | Principal and Chief Academic Officer
Dr. Nivea Lisandra Torres is a dedicated and passionate educator who has taught students at all grade levels in Puerto Rico and Connecticut for over 24 years. Her accomplishments range from achievements at the classroom, school, and state-wide level.
Dr. Torres has served as principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent of schools in Connecticut. As a school leader, Dr. Torres brings firsthand knowledge of the challenges and realities of delivering
quality classroom instruction to all students and leading schools to success.
Dr. Torres has also served as adjunct professor of curriculum at the University of Connecticut’s NEAG School of Education where she taught for over six years.
She most recently served as the Executive Director of the Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative in Vero Beach, Florida. In this capacity, she launched a nationally funded family engagement model to support early childhood education, secured sustainable funding from local and national donors, and created a streamlined process that allowed for closer integration of services to local families.
Dr. Torres holds a B.A. in Foreign Service and International Politics from the Pennsylvania State University, an M.Ed. in English as a Second Language from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Connecticut.
On her appointment as the new principal of Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep, Dr. Torres says, “I am humbled and honored to be part of the Cristo Rey Dallas community. I look forward to working with such a talented team who is focused on empowering students to be college and career ready while growing their spiritual faith.” “As principal, I am committed to working collaboratively with parents, students, and faculty, to continue moving Cristo Rey Dallas into even more success.”
Connect with Dr. Torres at ntorres@cristoreydallas.org.
Elizabeth Romero-Mestas | Director of Finance and Human Resources
Elizabeth Romero-Mestas serves as the Director of Finance & Human Resources at Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep, where she oversees the school’s financial strategy, operational planning, and people-centered HR functions in support of the school’s mission.
Born and raised in Pleasant Grove, Elizabeth is deeply passionate about serving the Dallas community and advancing Cristo Rey Dallas’ faith-based mission to empower students through education and opportunity. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, with a minor in Spanish from the University of North Texas.
Prior to joining Cristo Rey Dallas, Elizabeth built her career in the hospitality industry, where she held progressive finance and accounting roles. She had the privilege of helping open a new hotel, an experience that strengthened her ability to maintain financial accuracy, build a strong internal control environment, and collaborate across teams to achieve shared goals. She brings this same commitment to stewardship, teamwork, and service to her work at Cristo Rey Dallas.
Elizabeth is passionate about responsible financial stewardship, developing others, and fostering collaborative environments that support students, faculty, and staff. She is honored to serve a mission that integrates faith, education, and professional opportunity to transform lives.
Connect with Elizabeth at elromero@cristoreydallas.org.
Anthony Valente | Vice President of Corporate Work Study
Anthony serves as the Vice President of Corporate Work Study for Cristo Rey Dallas. Prior to his current role, he served as the Vice President of Advancement for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing donor relationships, corporate partnerships, marketing, special events, and fundraising
through both local and federal grants as well as individual and corporate donations.
During his tenure as the VP of Advancement, Anthony was able to generate over $5 million dollars annually, break past fundraising goals at signature events, and work with other executive team members to create and implement the organization’s strategic plan. He was responsible for the vast expansion of the Boys & Girls Clubs partnerships not only across North Texas but nationally and managed over 500 individual donor and corporate relationships. Before his work at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, he served as Manager of Corporate Relations for Cristo Rey Dallas.
He has previously worked with Incarnation House as Director of Outreach and Volunteer
Engagement. In each of his roles, Anthony has shown an ability to develop strong and
lasting partnerships within the Dallas community, and a passion for serving children/adolescents and their families across the metroplex.
Anthony is originally from Clifton, New Jersey. He graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Law and a Minor in Business Administration and Finance. He then moved to Texas where he completed his Master of Business Administration at the University of Dallas. Anthony resides in East Dallas with his wife, Katy, and their two dogs and enjoys cooking, hiking, and traveling locally and internationally.
Connect with Anthony at avalente@cristoreydallas.org.