Who We Are

Riordan Programs Staff

 

Roxanne Mendez 
Executive Director

Roxanne Mendez is the fifth executive director of the Riordan Programs. She has been with the Riordan Programs since 2007, first serving as associate director. In addition, she is a certified career management coach. Roxanne was the 2017 recipient of the Women of Philanthropy Award for her role in changing the community for the better, by Comerica Bank and the Los Angeles Lakers. Mendez was selected in 2016 as part of the Next Generation Latino Philanthropy Leaders Program by Hispanics in Philanthropy. In 2015, she was a member of Leadership California for its California Issues & Trends Program, a prestigious, year-long program for women leaders from across the state of California. Her previous experience includes working in college outreach at the University of Southern California and as a grant consultant, establishing a pre-medical school program for underrepresented populations. Roxanne is a graduate of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, with a B.S. in business administration. She received her graduate degree from the University of Southern California.

April Owens
Senior Associate Director of Programs

April Owens is passionate about helping people utilize their inner strengths and positive qualities to achieve their desired goals and ultimately thrive in life. April, began her career as a program coordinator at the State University of New York, Albany where she supported and implemented programs that enhanced the college experience for underserved populations and improved retention rates.

As a licensed professional counselor in the state of Texas, April has experience in case and program management and directly delivering counseling services to groups and individuals in both clinical research and crisis settings.

April is a graduate of Spelman College with a B.A. in Psychology and the State University of New York, Albany with a M.S. in Counseling.

Cheyenne Luna 
Senior Program Manager

Cheyenne Luna is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, first generation students, and education. She began her journey tutoring elementary students in programs such as LA’s Best and Beyond the Bell. She noticed the importance of community-based organizations in her diverse, low-income community. For the past 5 years, Cheyenne has been guiding students in College and Career Counseling to help them achieve their dreams. In Spring of 2021, she wrote her thesis on the Accessibility of Public Post-Secondary Education for Undocumented students. Her thesis was nominated for Best Graduate Studies Thesis and Best Thesis for the 2021 Master’s in Public Administration cohort. Cheyenne holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (2017) degree and a Master’s in Public Administration (2021) degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Jaquelinne Rodriguez-Lopez
Program Manager

Jaquelinne Rodriguez-Lopez joins the Riordan Programs leading alum relation efforts and enhancing the Riordan experience. 

In 2020, she joined the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy at Loyola Law School, where she researched to submit endorsement letters for legislative bills to create equitable educational opportunities for foster youth. Recognizing that support systems and resources are only available to some children in Los Angeles, she aspires to address the educational inequities L.A.'s most at-risk youth encounter. 

In her work, she oversees the Riordan Saturday Business Institute, led by Riordan MBA Fellow mentors, to introduce personal finance literacy and early college planning to 9th and 10th-grade high school students. 

Jaquelinne is a proud graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., Anthropology '20) and an active mentor within the UCLA Latino Alumni Association's OrgullOSO Mentorship Program.