Matthew Busby serves as the Vice President of Development & Donor Advising. The fuel that drives him is the confidence his work empowers people in our community to earn their education, thereby improving their lives in very meaningful and significant ways. He loves getting to building authentic relationships and collaborate with philanthropic supporters and facilitate meaningful giving.

He provides collaborative leadership on the College's executive team, the Foundation Board of Trustees and within the division. Matthew is focused on building systematic, sustainable, and data-driven initiatives that change the culture of education and philanthropy within the College and our Coastal Bend community. Since joining Del Mar in 2019, Foundation fundraising, scholarships and emergency aid awards have achieved all-time records. In his role as executive director of the Del Mar College Foundation, he partners with the volunteer board to strategically synchronize support efforts for the benefit of the College’s students, faculty and programs. Prior to joining Del Mar College in January of 2019, he spent ten years between College of the Mainland and Hill College, serving in financial aid, academic advising and fundraising positions.

A sixth-generation Texan, Matthew has a master's degree in management & leadership from Western Governor's University, a bachelor's degree in political science from Baylor University and an associate's degree in general studies from Temple College. He loves spending time with his family and friends; being outside; reading; piano; dancing and genealogy.

Matthew earned his Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) in 2017, the same year he was elected as President of the Texas Association of Community College Foundations (TACCF). During his two-year term he led the state organization through an exciting period of strategic reinvention and growth. He is a member of AFP, TACCF and the Planned Giving Council of South Texas and has presented at district, state and national conferences for AACC, CASE, AFP, TACCF and NCMPR on LinkedIn and fundraising strategies.

Joel has a BBA in Accounting from Texas A&M University – Kingsville. Joel assists the Executive Director of Development in the planning, coordinating and reporting roles of the Foundation's resource management function. This is accomplished through managing and coordinating associated functions and reporting on the administration of financial and scholarship matters associated with the Del Mar College Development and Foundation Services activities.

Joel also oversees the related financial and reporting functions associated with the DMC Foundation which operates as a separately chartered 50l(c)3 organization; manages and coordinates various databases associated with donor tracking, gift reporting, accounting and on-line scholarship management, oversees departmental training on databases. Other duties include providing the administrative duties of supervising one or more staff members and working with volunteer committees associated with the Foundation Board as directed.

Cynthia has been with Del Mar College Foundation since 2016 and has served as the Development Officer since January 2022. Presently, she plans and executes Annual Giving campaigns and nurtures relationships with donors in South Texas and beyond.

Prior to joining the Del Mar College Foundation, the Corpus Christi native spent 18 years at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times – both as a journalist in the Newsroom in various editor roles and in the Marketing Department, representing the newspaper in the community and organizing events.

Del Mar College is central to Cynthia’s story. Her parents met as students at DMC. And when Cynthia was attending the University of Texas at Austin in the late-1990s, her father took a second job - teaching night classes at Del Mar College - to pay for her education.

Coming soon.

Denise is the donor advising officer with Del Mar College Foundation and develops relationships with donors and the Corpus Christi community . Previously, she joined Del Mar College in August 2021 as a Program Coordinator with the Corporate Services team. She was provided with the opportunity to join the Small Business Development Center in October 2021 as a Small Business Advisor. While in this position, Denise was able to develop relationships with small business owners and provide one on one confidential business advice.

Prior to joining Del Mar College, Denise owned her own small business that she was able to grow through her dedication to education, community relations, and employee development. Furthermore, Denise held customer service, regulatory, procurement, and analyst positions within a gas/electric utility company and accredits her interest in business and leadership drive to the examples shown to her during her tenure.

Marissa Martinez serves as the Donor Experience Coordinator at Del Mar College Foundation, where her primary focus is to create an exceptional philanthropic experience for all donors. Through both digital and in-person engagement opportunities, Marissa works to build meaningful and lasting relationships with supporters, ensuring each individual feels valued and connected to the Foundation’s mission.

Marissa holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, where she graduated in 2018. Before joining the Del Mar College Foundation, she honed her event planning and community engagement expertise as the Special Events Manager at Ronald McDonald House Charities South Texas. In this role, Marissa successfully orchestrated a variety of fundraising events, fostering community involvement and advancing the organization’s mission.

With a passion for philanthropy and a heart for service, Marissa hopes to make a difference in the lives of others every day.

Cecelia Gonzales is the Data and Technology Manager for the Foundation. She was born and raised in Kingsville, TX. She has a BBA in Management (2009) and an MBA in Business Administration (2014) from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Most recently Cecelia hails from KEDT as the Director of Fundraising Events, South Texas Public Broadcasting System. Her two favorite jobs besides this one were as a student worker at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, which was her first experience in the development field, and as a Vet Tech at Hubert Veterinary Hospital because of her love for animals.

Cecelia really enjoys live music and concerts. And still, one of the most important things to her is animals. She serves as the Community Member on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. All of her pets are rescues. Her dogs, Roscoe and Dodger, plus her cat, Pepper, were very recently joined by a little black kitten, Salem, that found his way to Cecelia. She says, “It's hard to say ‘no’ to a tiny kitten that walks up to you on the street and claims you as its own!”

Elsie Odom serves as the Scholarship Coordinator for Del Mar College Foundation. In her current role, she oversees the Foundation’s scholarship program, including strategic planning and implementation, data management, awarding, processing, and scholarship reception event. The Foundation partners with corporations, community organizations, foundations, and individuals in raising funds for student scholarships and programs. Elsie awards nearly $2 million in scholarships to students each academic year.

Prior to joining Del Mar College in 2011, Elsie served as Stewardship Officer at Rice University for five years. Elsie has broad-based knowledge of the sector with more than 14 years of experience in higher education. This experience gives her a deep appreciation for how nonprofits seek to improve the quality of life for students. Her passion lies in helping students succeed and achieve their dreams. Her motto is, “Never give up.”

Elsie holds a bachelors degree from the University of Houston-Victoria and is a member of TACCF and TACHE.

Elsie loves spending time with family, especially with her daughter, cooking, gardening, and traveling.

Alex is an Accounting Assistant for the DMC Foundation. He is a Corpus Christi native and a lifelong Coastal Bend resident. Alex earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a Master of Accountancy degree both from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. Following graduation, Alex worked in public accounting for two local CPA firms.

After a few years in public accounting, Alex decided to enroll at Del Mar College to pursue a health care related career and later graduated with an Associate degree. Although he found the health care field fascinating, he soon realized that what he really enjoys is being around higher education.

Alex began working in higher education at Del Mar College. He started as an adjunct accounting instructor. Next he became an academic tutor at the DMC Student Success Center where he primarily tutored business subjects such as accounting and economics; although, he also tutored college math and writing.

Alex greatly enjoyed helping students achieve success in their academic pursuits. And now, he is grateful for this new opportunity to work with the DMC Foundation and to continue helping support Del Mar College and its mission.

Some of Alex’s many interests include traveling, learning as much about history as he can, and always learning more about horticulture and landscape design.

Coming soon.

Belinda Cisneros is a confident and well-organized Administrative Assistant who supports various projects in the Office of Development/Foundation department. She is a highly approachable individual who has a pleasant attitude and a willingness to positively affect every individual she encounters at the Del Mar College Foundation and even outside of the College.

When not at work, Belinda enjoys spending time with her family and traveling with her husband of 32 years. She is a graduate of Roy Miller High School.

Christina was born and raised in Corpus Christi, TX. She is a graduate of West Oso High School, and in May of 2024, she received her Associate of Applied Science - Accounting Specialist degree. Christina is currently enrolled at Del Mar College to obtain her Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management and Leadership degree. She joins the Del Mar College Foundation as an Administrative Assistant.

In her free time, Christina enjoys spending quality time with her beloved family, cooking and eating delicious food, and watching football.

As a donor advising specialist at Del Mar College Foundation, Kelsey Chopelas connects individuals, corporations, and private foundations to philanthropic opportunities benefiting DMC students. Kelsey believes closing the gap between financial need and education is the key to an improved quality of life and a stronger workforce in the Coastal Bend.

Prior to joining the Del Mar College Foundation team in 2021, Kelsey worked in business development for a national consulting firm with a primary focus in municipal projects. In addition, Kelsey brings experience from Texas Tech University, where she managed sponsored and gifted funds within the Department of Animal and Food Sciences.

Kelsey earned her Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Communications from Texas Tech University in 2012 and her Master of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2022. Kelsey is a graduate of Leadership Corpus Christi Class 48 and a member of the steering committees for Class 50 and Class 51.

Kelsey also serves on the publicity committee for the Texas Association of Community College Foundations, and is a member of Texas Farm Bureau.

In her free time, Kelsey can be found enjoying the outdoors alongside her husband, Colin, and their four-legged children, Gracie and Luna.