Meet Our Team

Meet The Leadership Team

Our leadership team brings together experts with extensive experience in global mental health, community engagement, and psychological science.

  • Co-FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

    Originally from Spain, Alejandra (Alesha) Cid-Vega is a Clinical Health Psychology Doctoral student at the University of Miami. Alesha earned a BA in Performing Arts and Global Health from Sarah Lawrence College. She holds a Master’s in Psychology from The New School in New York, with the Center for Global Mental Health where she served as the center manager and graduate student researcher, co-leading efforts to adapt and implement scalable psychological interventions developed by the WHO using innovative approaches. Alesha has been in technical roles in global mental health projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, Uganda, and Switzerland. She has presented her work at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Quitapenas started as her school project and materialized into a full initiative for which she’s volunteered her time, leadership and dedication to make it reality.

  • PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

    Adam Brown is Professor of Psychology at The New School for Social Research and Head of the New School Center for Global Mental Health, where he also directs the Global Mental Health graduate minor. His research focuses on adapting evidence-based mental health and psychosocial interventions for delivery by non-specialists across diverse global contexts. He is widely published in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters, and his work includes extensive study of traumatic stress, risk, and resilience.

    Dr. Brown has received grants from the National Institute of Health, USAID, Fulbright, and private foundations, and has consulted for the United Nations, UNICEF, and Amnesty International.

A note from the Co-Founder:

“This project all started by listening: listening to the stories of travel, migration, and overcoming adversity; to witnessing the work of people I admired using storytelling to reach the corners of our Spanish-speaking world; to the impact of the arts in my own life and those around me during hard times; to the nights of watching 'novelas' with my grandparents... And then pausing; and listening to the scientific research that screams for scalable mental health solutions that truly resonate and reach those most in need.

From listening came conversations, and the people on this team who believed in an idea that once sounded impossible, and said: let’s do it, we’re in.

This project metabolized the pain of the world and the adversity of displacement into an inspiring, heartfelt story of transformation and care, with practical, evidence-based tools to foster mental wellbeing, all through the voices of the community and a team of true champions who came together to make this dream to true.

I hope ‘Quitapenas’ becomes that worry doll you can keep under your pillow, and reach for every time the world feels like too much.”

With warmth & care,

Meet Our Creative Team

  • Gerardo Pérez Zermeño

    PRODUCER & SCREENWRITING CONSULTANT

    Gerardo is a screenwriter of over 15 telenovelas with additional experience in film distribution, and Quitapenas marks an important step in his production journey.

  • Hugo Espinosa

    PRODUCER

    Hugo is a Mexican producer with a degree in Communication and Public Relations from Universidad Latinoamericana and over two decades in independent cinema, known for films including Espiral (2009) and Gringo (2015).

  • Laura Berrón

    PRODUCER

    Laura is a Mexico City–based director and CCC graduate whose fiction and documentary productions have screened at major festivals including Morelia, Sundance, Berlinale, and Venice.

  • Alejandra Romero

    SCREENWRITING CONSULTANT

    Alejandra is a Sonora-born, UNAM-trained dramatic literature graduate who has written, co-adapted, and co-authored telenovelas for TelevisaUnivisión. She was the first to join the Quitapenas team from the onset.

  • Humberto Robles

    SCREENWRITING CONSULTANT

    Humberto is the most internationally represented living Mexican screenwriter and playwright, with works performed and published around the world.

  • Karina González Pérez

    SCREENWRITER & PROJECT COORDINATOR

    Karina is Costa Rican, graduated from Bennington College in psychology and education. She is currently serving as a Research Associate at the Center for Global Mental Health.

  • Marianne Amelinckx

    SCREENWRITER & CONSULTANT

    Marianne is a queer Venezuelan Writer/Director based in Los Angeles, passionate about female-driven and LGBTQ+ stories. Past works include award winning short films and documentaries.

  • Rubén Nuñez

    SCREENWRITER

    Ruben is a screenwriter and global citizen dedicated to telling culturally bridging, emotionally resonant stories.

  • Jose Gregorio Rodriguez

    SCREENWRITER & PLAYWRIGHT

    Jose is a Venezuelan playwright and graduate of Televisa’s telenovela screenwriting program at Universidad Iberoamericana, blending Venezuelan and Mexican cultural perspectives.

  • Edu Cortés

    DIRECTOR

    Edu is a Mexican filmmaker trained in film production and fiction direction who debuted in 2022 with the coming-of-age film Háblame de ti.

  • Diego Cruz Cliveti

    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND POST-PRODUCTION LEAD

    Diego is an ENAC-UNAM–trained cinematographer and professor whose award-winning work has been recognized by AMACC, FICM, GIFF, and Bogoshorts.

  • Maddie Howson

    WEBSITE DEVELOPER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER

    Maddie is a Wake Forest graduate specializing in website design and visual storytelling for mental health brands, with a background in psychology.

  • Daniela Cruz Rodríguez

    ART DIRECTOR

    Daniela is a production designer and ENAC-UNAM professor who creates research-based, immersive visual worlds.

  • Graciela Miguel Hacha

    ACTRESS | “Adela” in Quitapenas

    Graciela is a National School of Theatrical Arts graduate with over 10 years in theater, film, and TV, and is on faculty at INBAL’s National School of Classical and Contemporary Dance.

  • Daniel Moya

    ACTOR | "Miguel" in Quitapenas

    Daniel is a Venezuelan actor trained in acting, musical theatre, dance, and singing, with Mexican stage credits including Rent, Wicked, and Macbeth.

  • Eddy Medina

    ACTOR | “Juan Bautista” in Quitapenas

    Eddy is a Monterrey-born actor trained at Casazul, with extensive musical theater experience and who debuted on television in Quitapenas as Juan Bautista.

  • José Manuel Beltrán Castillo

    ACTOR | “Lucas” in Quitapenas

    José Manuel is a 12-year-old Mexican actor with eight years of film and TV experience and a passion for athletics.

  • Samantha Castillo

    ACTRESS | “Mayra” in Quitapenas

    Samantha is a Venezuelan actress based in Mexico City whose internationally awarded film career is complemented by her work teaching actors and directors.

  • Rudolf Torres

    ACTOR | “Luis Alberto” in Quitapenas

    Rudolf is a Mexico City–born actor with over 20 years in television, advertising, and digital media, known for roles in Rebelde, Alborada, and La Madrastra.

  • Miriam Chi

    ACTRESS | “Xibach” in Quitapenas

    Miriam is a University of the Arts of Yucatán–trained actress, educator, and founder of In K’aatech Clown.

  • Juliana de la Mora

    ACTRESS | “Clara” in Quitapenas

    Juliana is a Colombian actress and writer based in Mexico City with experience across theater, film, TV, and series.

  • Elsa Laes

    FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

    Elsa is a first assistant director with over a decade of experience in film, television, advertising, and series production.

  • Rodrigo Hernández Mejía

    SECOND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

    Rodrigo is a filmmaker, writer, and creative producer with experience in directing, production, and content development who served as second assistant director on Quitapenas.

  • Mau Franco

    FIRST ASSISTANT CAMERA

    Mau is a Mexico City–based focus puller with more than ten years of experience in commercials, feature films, and scripted series.

  • A. Irving Conde

    PRODUCTION UNIT MANAGER

    Irving is the production and location manager for Quitapenas who also appears as an extra at the start of the series.

  • Rodolfo Vilchis Conde

    SET DECORATOR

    Rodolfo is an ENAC-UNAM cinematography graduate working in set decoration and art coordination for brands such as BYD, Bécalos, and Chedraui.

  • Ana Victoria Mendez

    PRODUCTION DESIGNER

    Graduate from UNAM with a Bachelor’s Degree in Cinematography, Ana has built her career across various short films, music videos, and series.

  • Magui Macuz

    SCRIPT SUPERVISOR

    Magui is a screenwriter, script supervisor, and filmmaker committed to telling empathetic, dignity-centered human stories.

  • Adriá Campmany Buisan

    SOUND MIXER

    Adrìa is a Barcelona-born sound designer and director specializing in documentary storytelling.

  • Stephen Buck

    MUSICIAN

    As an arranger, performer, composer and program designer, Stephen has played an important role in some of the most innovative, entertaining, and stimulating concert experiences today.

  • Rodrigo Zermeño

    MUSICIAN

    Rodrigo is a musician, composer and producer from Mexico City interested in latin genres, urban music and storytelling.

  • Gerardo Saucedo

    GAFFER

    Gerardo is a gaffer with over 27 years in film, television, music videos, and documentaries.

  • Juan Carlos Chávez

    ON-SET DRESSER

    Juan Carlos is an on-set dresser dedicated to developing projects with technical skill, discipline, and creative vision.

  • Fernanda Castellanos

    MAKEUP ARTIST

    Makeup artist with several years of experience and training. She led hair and make up in Quitapenas.

  • Laura Helda González Trejo

    SET ELECTRICIAN

    Laura is a UNAM Communication and Journalism graduate and set electrician passionate about visual storytelling.

From the Community, For the Community.

Brought to life by a dedicated team of 35 people, Quitapenas is rooted in community. We leveraged local networks and trusted relationships to create a story that reflects real experiences and speaks directly to those who need it most.