President

Vice President

Alisa Bender is a dedicated senior education leader with over 20 years of experience serving the Hawai'i State Department of Education in school, complex area, and state-level leadership roles. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her ability to coordinate complex initiatives and align operational systems to better serve students and educators. Alisa currently serves as a Principal-in-Residence at the HIDOE Leadership Institute, where she focuses on statewide leadership development and strategic coordination.

Guided by a deep sense of servant leadership, Alisa’s professional journey is rooted in her Christian values of humility, integrity, and compassion. She views leadership fundamentally as an act of service, dedicated to honoring those entrusted to her care and stewarding resources with a focus on the greater good. Her expertise in building high-performing cultures and fostering inclusive environments was notably demonstrated during her tenure as Principal of Hickam Elementary, which was designated a National Blue Ribbon School.

Alisa holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Chaminade University and a Certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Beyond her professional kuleana, she finds purpose in her faith, family and friends.

"I am truly humbled to be a part of such a visionary service like The IMARA Project, working alongside others to empower the next generation of girls to lead with confidence and purpose." ~Alisa Bender

Treasurer

Founder & Executive Director

Dr. Kim L. Muñoz is an educator, mentor, leadership development professional, Army veteran, and Marine Corps civilian with more than two decades of experience serving diverse communities through education, leadership, and public service.

She holds a Doctor of Education degree with a specialization in e-learning and a Master of Arts in English Literature. Throughout her career, she has served youth, families, military communities, educators, and seniors in leadership and service-oriented roles across the United States and abroad.

Her professional journey began in the United States Army while stationed in Nuremberg, Germany. Since then, she has supported youth programs in New York City, taught in Louisiana schools, served as Director of Education in Ramstein, Germany, managed an assisted living community in the Atlanta area, supported military-connected families as a Regional School Liaison Officer in Honolulu, Hawaii, and assisted transitioning service members as a Marine Corps Transition Center Advisor at Camp Pendleton, California.

Today, she serves as an Education and Learning Faculty Advisor at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California, where she designs and facilitates instructor and staff development programs focused on leadership, communication, and professional growth.

Throughout her career, Dr. Muñoz has worked with diverse youth populations, including military-connected students, Native Hawaiian youth, underserved communities, students experiencing housing insecurity, and young people from a wide range of cultural, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds.

As Founder and Executive Director of The IMARA Project, she is committed to helping girls build confidence, develop leadership skills, and thrive through mentorship and community support.