Kirklyn Escondo is the new president of UniPro
For a ‘truly unified and engaged Pilipino America.’ Photo by Chauncey Velasco
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve the Pilipino American community in the capacity of UniPro President,” said Kirklyn in a press statement. “I look forward to building with other community members, leaders, and organizations towards a truly unified and engaged Pilipino America.”
The new Executive Board brings many years of community experience to UniPro’s leadership.
Kirklyn is a clinical researcher who has been involved in the community since her undergraduate career at New York University. She joined UniPro in 2009 as a member of the organization’s inaugural batch of interns, and since then, has served in the roles of Director of Community Building and Secretary General.
She is currently an MPH candidate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and works as a clinical researcher at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, studying novel treatments for PTSD and Gulf War illness among veterans.
She said her leadership will “continue supporting our existing national chapters in San Diego, Chicago, and Seattle.”
Stephanie, who joined UniPro in 2012, works in the philanthropic sector; she is trained in nonprofit management and earned her MPA in Health Policy and Finance from NYU Wagner while serving as UniPro’s Director of Fundraising.
Stephanie Chrispin; Alyssa Esteban
Alyssa joined UniPro in 2012. A graphic designer, she graduated from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, where she was President of Rutgers Association of Philippine Students (RAPS).
UniPro also announced its new Board of Directors. Co-founder and former Executive Director Bryan Lozano; former President Iris Zalun; and former Vice President Noel Aglubat join the current board with Chairperson Steven Raga, Marisa McCloskey, and Maria Cruz Lee.
Under its new leadership, UniPro aims to continue promoting visibility and equity in the Pilipino American community, especially by promoting civic engagement and raising awareness of social justice issues affecting Pilipino Americans and other communities of color. The organization also aims to continue celebrating the local artists and storytellers who are sharing and archiving the community’s experiences and contributions to the rich fabric of American society.
UniPro kickstarted the fiscal year this month by collaborating with My Baryo, My Borough, a community-curated oral history initiative to archive the Pilipino American experience in Queens, NY.
