Board of Directors

Chair

Dr. Tim Steigenga is a professor of political science and Associate Dean for campus and community engagement at the Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in 1996 and has held positions at the University of Massachusetts, Colby College, and Davidson College prior to moving to Jupiter to help found the Wilkes Honors College in 1999. He is the author/editor of six books and numerous other publications issues related to religion, migration and immigrant integration including: Against the Tide: Immigrants, Day Laborers, and Community in Jupiter, Florida. Tim has served as a co-principle investigator on major research grants from the Ford Foundation focused on the lives of Latin American immigrants in Florida and Georgia, was awarded a fellowship at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and served as a Fulbright Scholar in Guatemala. He was among those who helped to found El Sol in 2004 and lives in Jupiter with his wife and three children.

Vice-Chair

Journalist Roger Buckwalter spent 28 years at The Jupiter Courier, where he was editorial page editor, before retiring in 2001. He has served on numerous local boards, including as past president of the American Cancer Society and past chairman of the Loxahatchee River Historical Society.  Currently, he is chairman of the Northern Palm Beaches Cultural Alliance and chairs the community relations committee of the Advisory Board of Florida Atlantic University’s Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College. Roger grew up in Juno Beach and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida. He is a Vietnam War veteran.

Treasurer

Philip (P.J.) Willis is a Senior Trust Portfolio Manager for Synovus Private Wealth in South Florida. P.J. has over 20 years of experience managing over $700 million in client assets. Most recently, P.J. was Senior Vice Presidents and Investment strategist for a Florida financial Institution. P.J. customize investment strategies for individuals, families, and trusts helping them achieve long term financial success.

P.J. graduated with honors from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelors degree in Finance. He has also earned the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). P.J. is a native of South Florida and believes in helping his local community.

Secretary

Monica Maldonado is the Associate Director of Student Activities at Florida Atlantic University’s Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

As a doctoral student in neuroscience at the University of Texas at Austin, she worked in a laboratory studying Ischemic stroke and how the brain changes after damage.

At FAU, Monica works as a director for various programs, but she is also a classroom instructor and mentor in the sciences. She helps aspiring medical professionals advance in their careers through internships and other professional development opportunities.

She lives with her husband and three children in Jupiter Farms.

He resides in Jupiter with his wife Greta and is the proud father of two girls, Ellie and Eva.

Sheila Hirsch is an 18-year resident of Jupiter. Her professional career has been dedicated to providing accounting services in a variety of challenging fields, including medicine and television. For the past 10 years, she has been in the financial services industry and is Series 7 Securities licensed. Sheila spent several years on the production crew for the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon on WPEC-TV and was an original organizer of Project Thanksgiving. Shelia is currently serving on the Owner’s Board a The Barristers Building in West Palm Beach. An active member at Jupiter FIRST Church, Shelia works with the Web Ministry and has served as treasurer of the Church.

Dalila Jara is the current President of El Sol Workers’ Council. El Sol’s Workers’ Council is an active and critical partner in our decision-making process; elected by the workers, council members are instrumental in identifying community needs that El Sol can address, especially regarding those of the migrant population, and in determining and implementing the Center’s policies and procedures, events, and programs.  

Lee McCarthy has a long career in travel planning and charity work. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Lee has worked as an international flight attendant, flight interpreter, travel planner and certified travel counselor. In addition to her volunteer work at El Sol, where she is secretary of the executive board, Lee volunteers at the Quantum House at St. Mary’s Medical Center.