Isel Otero-Vera, Program Officer for the Regional Foundation, where she brings deep experience in program design, partnership development, and coalition-building to advance equitable community development strategies.  

Prior to joining the Regional Foundation, Isel led The Food Trust’s Farm to Early Childhood Education programs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In this role, she supported network-building, community storytelling, and resource-sharing initiatives that elevated local food system leaders. Her work contributed to regional efforts promoting local food procurement for schools, community food access initiatives, urban agriculture, policy advocacy, nature-based nutrition, and agricultural education. 

Earlier in her career, Isel coordinated a local food access program in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and supported a sustainable farming entrepreneurship initiative in Kerala, India. 

Isel holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Rutgers University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Bryn Mawr College. Originally from Puerto Rico, she has lived in Philadelphia for more than 10 years.