Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Risa Berrin is founder & chief executive officer of Health Information Project (HIP).
A graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Miami School of Law, Risa has always had an innate drive, entrepreneurial spirit and desire to improve her community.
Before law school, Risa became a court-appointed special advocate for children who were mistreated, abandoned and neglected. She also taught health education to female juveniles who were incarcerated. During law school, Risa led the school's Street Law program in Miami's public schools.
Risa was also a part-time writer for The Miami Herald for many years.
As chief executive officer, Risa is responsible for the sustainability and growth of the organization. Risa envisions a world where every child receives quality health education and access to healthcare resources.
When she is not focused on HIP expansion, Risa loves to entertain in her home, spend time on the water boating, play golf and tennis, travel and attend classical music performances.
Chief Operating Officer
Valerie Berrin is chief operating officer for Health Information Project (HIP).
Valerie has been an entrepreneur since a very young age, selling mangoes from her backyard on the street corner for charity.
While studying at Barnard College – Columbia University, Valerie volunteered as a health teacher in the New York City public school system.
Valerie was selected to participate in a leadership development journey called Reality Impact, a Schusterman Foundation initiative, which provides social impact training to entrepreneurs around the world.
As chief operating officer, Valerie oversees the implementation of HIP at its partner school sites and manages the day-to-day administrative endeavors of the organization.
When Valerie is not ensuring the HIP program is running smoothly, you can find her playing tennis and golf, coaching a youth girls basketball team, running her local community basketball league and doing activities with her nephews.
Chief Program Officer
Lindsay Pena is chief program officer for Health Information Project (HIP).
Lindsay is a native Floridian, and proud University of Florida Gator alum. After college, she joined Teach for America and moved to Houston, Texas to be a first grade teacher. Lindsay holds a master's degree in education from the University of Houston.
She then joined KIPP, a nationally recognized charter organization, as a teacher, assistant principal and founding principal of a KIPP elementary school. It was her greatest privilege and accomplishment to see her founding kindergarteners become middle schoolers last year!
Lindsay has transitioned back to Florida and is incredibly excited to continue her mission and work with HIP. In order for every student to receive an excellent education, they must be physically and emotionally healthy.
Lindsay is a lifelong learner and loves to read and listen to podcasts. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, Silvia, and family, watching golf, football, or Cocomelon. Most of all, she loves being on the water and on a boat.
Chief Strategy Officer
Hannah Johns is chief strategy officer for Health Information Project (HIP).
Hannah has worked in education since graduating from Columbia University in 2009. She holds a master's degree in education from Hunter College. Hannah began her career as a Teach for America (TFA) corps member and went on to join TFA New York's staff as a new teacher coach. Hannah then served as a charter school operations leader for over six years.
She is passionate about empowering students to lead healthy lives and is thrilled to work in service of HIP's mission.
Outside of work, Hannah enjoys cooking and baking, reading and listening to podcasts, and spending time with her friends and family.
Program Director
Andrew Tripodo is the program director for Health Information Project (HIP).
Andrew began his journey in education as a summer school teacher for Breakthrough Miami, an experience that prompted him to join Teach For America as a high school English teacher in New Orleans.
After completing a masters degree in Political Theory from NYU, he moved home to Miami in 2017 as a founding faculty member of The Cushman High School. Before joining HIP, he served as KIPP Miami’s Humanities Achievement Director.
As program director, he works to ensure that students and teachers are getting the most out of HIP at their schools, and is passionate about HIP’s ability to cultivate student leadership and wellbeing in the many schools we partner with.
He is an avid reader and writer, publishing his first book in 2021. An athletics enthusiast, he spends many evenings swimming, running, or coaching water polo. Most of all, he loves traveling the world with his wife and concocting ever more far-flung adventures together.
Faculty Sponsor Coordinator
Loli is the HIP faculty sponsor at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, where she has been an AP Biology teacher for 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Earth & Ocean Science from Duke University and is currently working on a Masters in Biology from Clemson University. She loves forming relationships with students beyond the classroom through HIP and seeing her peer health educators grow and positively impact their community. She enjoys working with HIP faculty sponsors across Miami-Dade County and helping them make each HIP year a successful one!
Faculty Sponsor Coordinator
Therese is the HIP faculty sponsor and an assistant principal at South Broward High School. She has been an educator for the past 13 years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Educational Leadership from FAU. She is proud of the positive impact that HIP has had not only on the 9th grade students, but also on the 11th and 12th grade peer educators. She is looking forward to working with HIP faculty sponsors to continue to make HIP a success!
Faculty Sponsor Coordinator
Reginald is the HIP faculty sponsor at Plantation High School. He was born and raised in South Florida. He attended Chaminade Madonna High School as a basketball player and Nova Southeastern University, where he got his bachelors in biology and a minor in chemistry. He has been teaching for 18 years and has taught regular science, honors and AP biology, chemistry and anatomy. He loves the way the program is a peer-to-peer learning experience and how it challenges the peer health educators to do something innovative, challenging, and exciting.
Faculty Sponsor Coordinator
Viviana is the HIP faculty sponsor at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST@FIU) where she teaches AP Biology and Honors Anatomy and Physiology. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Florida International University. Involvement in HIP has brought her a new sense of fulfillment in her career as an educator. She enjoys forming strong bonds with her students as she propels them on their journey to discover their passions.
Faculty Sponsor Coordinator
Lisa is the HIP faculty sponsor at West Broward High School. She is an instructor in the Career Technical Education program where she has been teaching Anatomy, Honors Physiology, and First Responder training for 9 years. Before becoming a teacher, she worked as a Paramedic/EMT firefighter and trauma medic. Lisa loves supporting her students and their mental health. She was so happy to take on the HIP program at her school, and loves to connect freshmen to resources and people who care about them in their community.
Board Chair
Managing Partner-Akin Ventures
Carlo & Micol Schejola Foundation
Director-Marketing & Comm. Relations
LSN Partners
Community Activist/Philanthropist
Founding Partner
Pensam Capital
Vice President, Strategic Partners
Blackstone Group
Retired Attorney
Meredyth Anne Dasburg Foundation
Vice President-Wealth Management
Northern Trust Corporation
Executive Director
Temple Israel of Greater Miami
Former Chief Academic Officer
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Physician
Skin Associates of South Florida
Retired Attorney/Mindfulness Practitioner
Mindfultime
Tax & Business Services Partner
Marcum LLP
Immigration Attorney/Shareholder
Packman, Neuwahl & Rosenberg, PA
Attorney/Partner
Lalchandani Simon PL
EdTech Entrepreneur/Founder
Nearpod
Thank you to our generous supporters who make the program possible.