The SHUPP Leadership Team
Julie Ramirez
President
Julie holds a Bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University. She and her husband have lived in Princeton for nearly 25 years, and her four children are graduates of the Princeton Public Schools. As a fervent supporter of public education, Julie recognizes the critical importance of food security in ensuring a student’s ability to focus and learn.
Ross Wishnick
Vice President
Ross Wishnick was a homebuilder for 25 years specializing in the development of active adult communities. He was a senior executive with Crestwood Village, Inc. (1978-1997), a New Jersey developer and one of the pioneers in that segment of the homebuilding industry. In addition, Mr. Wishnick was a founding director of First Washington State Bank headquartered in Windsor, New Jersey, and served as such from 1988 to 2005. He helped grow the bank from one branch to fifteen branches and from $3 million in assets to $500 million in assets. He served on the loan, personnel and technology committees during his tenure.
For twelve years, Mr. Wishnick was a member of and then chair of the Princeton Human Services Commission (2009-2020), which provides services to youths and seniors in general assistance and advocacy for this segment of the local population. As part of this Commission, Mr. Wishnick took the lead in founding Send Hunger Packing Princeton (2013-present), which provides supplemental food for students who together with their families are food insecure. Today the organization now has grown to include support for pre school and camps, public free raised bed gardens, free pantries, vertical indoor hydroponic gardens and general advocacy for those in need.
Mr. Wishnick is also a member of the Princeton Democratic Municipal Committee (PDMC) (2008-present) which is an elected position representing District 2. Mr. Wishnick is also a founding director of The Bank of Princeton which opened for business in 2007 and currently serves as Vice Chairman.
Melissa Urias Mercuro
Secretary
Melissa Urias Mercuro is the Associate Director for Community Relations in the Office of Community and Regional Affairs at Princeton University.
In her role, Melissa helps to strengthen the University’s relationship with the Princeton community and foster opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to actively engage in community life by collaborating with campus partners and local community organizations.
Before joining Princeton University, Melissa served as the Director of Human Services for the Municipality of Princeton. In this position, she managed a wide range of programs and services, including public assistance, emergency homelessness support, pandemic relief efforts, Welcoming Week, immigration outreach, Princeton’s Summer Youth Employment Program, and charitable initiatives for economically disadvantaged youth.
Born and raised in Princeton, Melissa grew up in the historic Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood and is a proud alumna of Princeton High School. She is a licensed social worker fluent in Spanish, holding a Master of Social Work with a concentration in community-based leadership from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in Public Health from Rutgers University.
Owen O’Donnell
Treasurer
Owen O’Donnell is senior director at Information Today, Inc., a publishing and conference firm, where he is responsible for the collection and management of database information used in numerous online reference sites and publications.
He has been active in the Princeton community since moving here with his family in 2004. Among the roles he has held are judge for the Princeton High School Speech and Debate team, president (for two years) and treasurer (for three years) of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization, and he is currently a member of the Princeton Planning Board.
Owen began volunteering with SHUPP in October 2022 and is a member of the Food Subcommittee, responsible for stocking free pantries in town.
Sam Nelson
Volunteer, Board Member
As a long time native of Princeton, Sam Nelson attended the Princeton Public School System, graduating from Princeton High School in 2013. After high school, Sam attended Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT where he graduated with a degree in Management in 2017. Over the years, Sam has developed a vast number of skills as he has worked across different industries from bio-medical marketing to retail management. Through his many experiences, Sam has developed a love for creating social programs and finding ways to build a sustainable future for those around him.
Sam is currently a Youth Outreach Coordinator under Human Services for the Municipality of Princeton. He facilitates Advocacy for Youth Program (AYP) and Princeton Youth Project(PYP), two municipal youth programs where he works directly with the students of Princeton to empower and offer them opportunities to refocus their energies toward healthier pursuits in life. Initially created to reduce juvenile delinquency, the Youth Development Programs under Human Services has been restructured to provide students with the space to achieve academic and personal success and participate in civic engagement as they strive to be the leaders of tomorrow.
Sam has developed a keen understanding of the community and has entwined himself in the local resources in Princeton to offer better programs and assistance for his youth participants. He had come across SHUPP and became inspired by its mission and has brought students from his program to volunteer on SHUPP community projects.
Trinidad Rodriguez
Volunteer, Board Member
Trinidad Rodriguez is the Family Liaison for Princeton Middle School and Bilingual (English/Spanish) Outreach Coordinator for Princeton Human Services (Municipality of Princeton). As a Princeton native from the Princeton Community Village and Princeton Public Schools; Trinidad has joined the SHUPP board to advocate and support all students who are faced with food insecurities.
From her own personal experience, as well as having seen first hand while working for the Princeton YMCA for nearly 20 years, and currently with the Princeton Public Schools (Princeton Middle School) and Princeton Human Services – Trinidad can say without qualification that food insecurities in Princeton does exist.
With great pride and dedication, Trinidad will continue to support Princeton students with the Send Hunger Packing Princeton team. Let’s Send Hunger Packing!
Become a Volunteer and join us!
We are always looking for volunteers to help with ongoing efforts and special events. Whether you have a few hours a month or few hours a year, please consider Send Hunger Packing Princeton.