Meet Our Staff
Janeth Santos
Program Manager
Janeth joined the New Mexico Simon Scholars Program, where she serves as High School Program Manager, in July 2017. She is a first-generation student, an alum of the Simon Scholars program, and a 2011 graduate of Capital High School. She attended the University of New Mexico, where she pursued her degree in Political Science with a minor in Economics.
After earning her degree in 2015, she worked as a mentor for high school students at College Plaza at Santa Fe High School. Janeth is very passionate about helping other students like herself surpass the barriers to obtain a higher education.
Ximena Valencia
Program Coordinator, Albuquerque
Ximena is a first-generation college graduate and former Simon Scholar whose journey has come full circle. After participating in the program during the COVID-19 pandemic, she went on to attend the University of Denver where she earned a degree in Marketing with a minor in Art. During college, she also had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy, an experience that allowed her to grow beyond her comfort zone.
Ximena is drawn to the ways people connect through art, culture and storytelling. She values empathy, meaningful relationships, and creating spaces where people feel understood and encouraged. Having experienced firsthand how much a supportive community can shape a student’s journey, she hopes to offer that same encouragement to others. For Ximena returning to Simon Scholars is more than a professional milestone; it is an opportunity to give back to a community that was once part of her own story.
Kevin Pereira
Program Coordinator, Santa Fe
Kevin Pereira began his career in hospitality in Santa Fe, where he learned that exceptional service elevates dining into a memorable experience. This passion led him to earn a degree in Hospitality and Tourism at the University of Denver.
While in college, Kevin gained experience in banquet events and luxury living before completing two internships at the Club at Las Campanas in Santa Fe. He returned full-time to supervise the café and manage broader operations, deeply valuing the meaningful relationships he developed with members. Building on this foundation of relational leadership and service, Kevin transitioned into the non-profit sector.
Today, he strives to empower first-generation students in their journey to college. Applying his operational and relationship-building skills st NM Simon Scholars allows him to make a positive, lasting impact on students’ lives.
Susan Talkington
Chief Operating Officer, The Simon Charitable Foundation
Susan joined The Simon Charitable Foundation in 2013. Susan’s career began building software for the banking and finance industry. After pursuing her M.A. from St. John’s College, she turned her attention to the non-profit sector, finding a natural match of organizational talent with purposeful work.
Susan brings accuracy, attention-to-detail and systems-level organizational skills to the Foundation. With more than 12 years of experience building software for banking applications, Susan understands the value of data integrity and efficient processes which save valuable resources for the organization. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying the outdoors.
Bear Nash
Executive Director, The Simon Charitable Foundation
Bear Nash was raised in New Mexico since the age of 8 when his family moved from Hawaii. Home-schooled until the 8th grade, he briefly attended a charter high school in Santa Fe before continuing his learning through traveling the world. His experiences prior to joining The Simon Charitable Foundation were primarily in the food service and hospitality industry. Among many experiences he helped restaurant startups and co-founded a bed and breakfast in Uruguay, learning Spanish and business in situ. After 6 years of intermittent travel, he re-settled back home in New Mexico and eventually earned his BA in Economics and an MBA from UNM’s Anderson School of Management. His non-linear educational path enables his appreciation for diverse, individually authentic ways of learning and the desire to promote opportunities for others to learn and achieve their goals.
Bear has held several key positions within The Simon Charitable Foundation since joining the team in 2011. His personal experience from a non-traditional education was an asset he employed as a founding member of the Street Food Institute team. There he developed the business model and grew sales as the Director of Sales and Marketing. When the social enterprise transitioned into an independent 501(c)(3) in 2017, he rejoined the core Foundation team serving as Community Relations Director and the Director of Strategic Initiatives. His experience and successes in those positions have contributed to his understanding of challenges the communities of New Mexico face and his desire to play a role in catalyzing positive changes.
As Executive Director Bear is leading the Foundation and New Mexico Simon Scholars Program team to build upon its successes, and give back to the Simon family on behalf of his brother who was a former Simon Scholar.