Affiliated Instructors

Sheryl D. Bailey, Ph.D.

Research Areas and Areas of Expertise:

• Economic Analysis and Public Policy
• Public Finance, Financial Management and Financial Resiliency
• Strategic Management, Organizational Change, and Performance Management 

Margie Bruce

Margie Bruce's journey into the field of interpretation began not as a planned career path, but as a meaningful opportunity to serve her community. Encouraged by a Parent Liaison at her child’s school who recognized both her bilingual abilities and the urgent need for Spanish interpreters, Margie stepped into a role that would soon become her calling.

Today, she serves as a Level III Spanish Interpreter (Simultaneous Interpreter) for Fairfax County Public Schools, one of the largest school districts in the nation. In this capacity, Margie plays a critical role in bridging communication between educators and families, ensuring that language is never a barrier to understanding or access. She regularly facilitates communication during parent-teacher conferences, Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, 504 Plan meetings, and other proceedings required under ADA, IDEA, and ESSA. Her work is especially impactful in supporting families of students with diverse learning and emotional needs.

Margie’s commitment to the profession extends beyond her work in schools. She has dedicated over 1700 hours  to training more than 600 interpreters, as a Behavioral Health Interpreter  Master Trainer with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). She has also been a pioneer in implementing the Virginia Behavioral Health Interpreting Curriculum in Education Settings (BHI-ES), helping to prepare interpreters for the unique and sensitive nature of behavioral health and educational environments.

In addition to her work in public schools, Margie provides freelance interpreting services, continuing to support individuals and families from diverse backgrounds. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Design from Universidad Autónoma del Caribe in Colombia, a foundation she draws upon to create thoughtful and engaging audiovisual training materials.

Margie finds joy in learning about different cultures, tending to her garden, traveling, and sharing meaningful moments with family and friends—often gathered around a home-cooked meal or enjoying a lively conversation. At the heart of her work and her life is a deep commitment to connection, understanding, and service to others.

Mario N. Chambers

Mario N. Chambers is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Wisdom Key Consulting, LLC, where he advises leaders on program and portfolio
management, organizational transformation, and operational execution. A trusted management executive with a proven track record, Mario has led complex enterprise initiatives across healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, nonprofit organizations, and state government.

He holds a Master’s degree in Health Services Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Hampton University. Mario is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds the Virginia Public Sector Leadership Certification from Virginia Tech. He is known for helping teams identify and resolve challenges that disrupt operations and for preparing organizations to navigate unexpected change. Simply put, he helps organizations identify and do what must be done.

In addition to his consulting work, Mario is a sought-after speaker and facilitator, delivering engaging sessions on project management, team building, conflict resolution, process improvement, interview training, hiring manager development, and leadership. He also provides professional coaching, helping individuals stay accountable and ask the right questions.

Outside of work, Mario enjoys science fiction, engineering, problem-solving, playing golf and asking why.

Leanna R. "Leigh” Lyons, M.Ed.

Leigh works with a commitment to create healthy workplaces that cultivate civility. As a leadership consultant and mediator, Leigh partners with business leaders to reduce workplace challenges and increase employee engagement for better organizational performance.

Before founding Lyons HR Consulting LLC, Leigh was an Employee Relations Director at a Commonwealth of Virginia state agency, where she served as an advisor to executives and HR directors on their most sensitive and complex cases. Her professionalism is centered around fairness, respect, and pragmatism.

Leigh holds a Master of Education in Adult Education/Human Resource Development from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a Supreme Court of Virginia certified mediator for General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations courts. She is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Virginia Mediation Network. 

Hector Rivera CW4(R)

Mr. Rivera’s record echoes decades of distinguished service in public administration while leading and guiding human resources, workforce development, financial management, federal/state budgets, policy formulation, and nation-state security in accord with federal and state laws, rules or mandates. Hector honorably served this nation as an Army Officer for more than two decades prior to his transition to the Commonwealth’s government and leadership. He is a proven Operational, Managerial, and Strategic Leader with extensive experience that is highlighted by service in our Nation’s Capital as senior staff officer under the Chairman of Joint

Hector worked for the Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon while providing advice to The White House and National Security Council to support the operational efficiency of US Armed Forces and their service members engaged in security and stability operations at home and abroad. Key projects under his direction were staffing the “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” policy rescindment; halting federal tuition dollars to for profit colleges/institutions taking advantage of military members; Guiding member for United Nations/IOC sports for development millennium development goals; stadia and event assessments in support of safety for US Athletes at 2016 Rio Olympic Games and many others. He recently retired from public service and as senior executive, chief officer and strategic leader for the Virginia Department of Forestry directing Human Capital, Training and Safety management throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. His education includes a Bachelor in Business, Masters of Public Administration, Masters in Political Science and International Development, and a doctoral studies at William and Mary in Planning, Policy, and Leadership. He continuously imparts his knowledge as adjunct faculty for Business and Public Administration undergraduate and graduate degree programs. His non-profit experiences include planting Hispanics ministries in Florida, Wisconsin, and Virginia while aiding free-care health clinics to sustain operations amid financial constraints. He also served as a pro-bono as advisor to professional baseball leagues within the Caribbean on stadium security. He is dedicated to inclusive communities he served in the Chesterfield County Public Schools’ Equity Committee. A native of Puerto Rico, Hector has called Virginia home for nearly two decades, residing with his wife in Goochland County as empty nesters, having raised their boys into mature young men.

Freshta Taeb

Freshta Taeb is a mental health professional, educator, and community advocate known for her work supporting marginalized communities, promoting culturally competent behavioral health care, and bridging gaps between public institutions and underserved populations.

Taeb has built a multidisciplinary career that spans behavioral health services, education, community advocacy, and policy engagement. She has worked extensively with refugee and immigrant populations, providing trauma-informed care and culturally sensitive intervention programs addressing issues such as post-traumatic stress, domestic violence, anger coaching and community integration. She has led programs delivering emotional-wellness workshops and support services for youth, adults and veterans. In addition to her clinical and advocacy work, Taeb is the founder and managing director of FT Translation Services, a company that provides translation, cultural consulting, and interpretation services. Through this work she has collaborated with major media outlets including Al Jazeera America and The New York Times, supporting translation and subtitling projects and contributing to cross-cultural communication initiatives. Taeb has also been involved in academic and training initiatives with institutions such as Virginia Department of Behavioral Health Developmental Services, Virginia Tech, and University of California, Davis. Through these collaborations, she has delivered training and educational programs focused on behavioral health interpretation, cultural competency, and trauma-informed care for professionals working with diverse communities. Beyond her professional work, Taeb has been active in civic and political engagement in the United States. She has participated in grassroots outreach, voter mobilization, and advocacy initiatives aimed at increasing representation and engagement among underserved communities. In 2025, she ran for New Jersey State Assembly in the 12th legislative district.