Staff

Tamara Sbelgio is co-founder and executive director. She has enjoyed a number of careers including teaching 7th and 8th grade Social Studies for over 14 years, starting her own retail business specializing in Latin American imports, and working in social work for the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. Tamara has a unique gift for working with young people and loves spending time with her 3 grandchildren.

Dinah Sbelgio is co-founder and President of the Board of Directors. A native Austinite and a product of Austin's public school system, Dinah holds a degree from Georgetown University and a masters degree in Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas. Dinah spent time teaching in São Paulo, Brazil and is an avid student of capoeira.

A member of the very first class of Morning Star Rising, Rachel Sears, has just completed her freshman year at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio.  A recipient of the Bonner Scholarship at Antioch, she is funded in a summer internship with any organization she chooses.  Rachel has chosen to spend her internship working with Morning Star Rising because she strongly believes in the value this program has for the young women it serves.

Shannisia Brown, a 2006 graduate of Akins High School and an alumna of the second Morning Star Rising class, is a freshman at Huston-Tillotson University.  Shay-shay has joined the Fulmore program staff as a part-time program assistant. As a middle school and high school leader in varsity sports and cheerleading, she brings strong leadership skills as well as a deep understanding of the Morning Star Rising program.