Board of Directors
Jaqueline Miramontes-Espinoza President
Jacqueline Miramontes-Espinoza, MBA (she/her/ella) is the Director of Strategic Implementation at Levado, a local consulting firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She previously served as a Senior Program Coordinator for Groundworks New Mexico (formerly the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers). During this period, Jacqueline provided programmatic support for several multi-sector initiatives. Prior to Groundworks, she worked at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as a Program Specialist where she managed a grant portfolio focused on advancing economic justice for working families in New Mexico.
Jacqueline serves as the President of the MANA de Albuquerque chapter, where she leads the organization with a focus on its operations, growth, and long-term sustainability.
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Jacqueline received her Master of Business Administration with a focus in Strategic Management and Policy and Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of New Mexico.
Julia Maestas Vice President of Operations
Julia Maestas, MS, PHR (she/her/ella) is a Sr. Talent Acquisition Recruiter for Operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Over the past 21 years, she has worked in law, accounting, and human resources; ten of which was in the justice systems/children’s court-delinquency and dependency programming. She enjoys talent acquisition because of the ability to impact new employee opportunities and to provide a gateway for them to apply their diverse background and inclusive value in the organization.
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Over the years, Julia has been very involved in women’s advocacy, leadership, and community engagement including serving as Director of Undergraduate Affairs for the first Latina sorority in the nation, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Where she created and facilitated many national undergraduate and collegiate initiatives.
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As Vice President of Operations, Julia oversees chapter programming and acts as a key advisor to the President, providing input on strategic decisions and organizational priorities to ensure a long-standing and sustainable chapter.
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Julia was born and raised in Las Vegas, New Mexico. She earned a Master of Science in Justice Administration from San Jose State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of New Mexico.
Darlene Castillo Immediate Past President / Scholarship Director
Darlene Castillo, MPP (she/her/ella) is the Evaluation and Learning Manager for Levado, a local consulting company in New Mexico. She has 10 years of experience conducting research and evaluation, which has involved data analysis and collection through interviews, focus groups, and surveys. Prior to joining Levado, Darlene worked at the University of New Mexico’s Cradle to Career Policy Institute as a Research Scientist II and was involved in numerous projects regarding education and childcare access. Darlene has served on other leadership boards such as Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc.’s Southwest Regional Recruitment and Retention Supervisor (RRRS). As RRRS, Darlene oversaw the recruitment of new members for the Southern California, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico chapters.
Darlene serves as the Scholarship Director to lead MANA’s scholarship fundraising, annual banquet, application process, and higher education programming. Darlene is MANA de Albuquerque’s immediate past chapter President and has previously served as MANA de Albuquerque’s Secretary and Madrinas Coordinator.
Darlene received her BS in Chemistry and BA in Psychology from the University of New Mexico and is currently pursuing her Master of Public Policy.
Jaymie Velasquez Treasurer
Jaymie Velasquez (she/her/ella) has over nine years of experience in the technology sector in facilities and systems engineering, program management, project management, operations, contracts, and managing vendor partnerships.
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As a 6th generation New Mexican, she takes deep pride in our region’s rich culture and heritage and is eager to contribute to MANA de Albuquerque’s commitment to empowering rising youth leaders.
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Jaymie serves as the Director of Finance of the MANA de Albuquerque chapter where she supports the organization’s strategic cost initiatives to ensure that the chapter has a financially sustainable future.
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Jaymie holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from New Mexico State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Linguistics with a focus in Chicano Studies.​
Marcela Mendoza Secretary
Marcela (she/her/ella) is an emerging community relations professional with a strong background in communications, multi-sector engagement, and programming. Currently, Marcela serves as the Special Programs Coordinator at WESST, a nonprofit that has supported New Mexico’s economic growth through small business development since 1988. In this role, she plays a key part in advancing state-wide programs aimed at fostering entrepreneurial success.
Beyond her professional work, Marcela is deeply committed to civic engagement and personal growth. She actively volunteers and mentors through various organizations, including serving as a board member for Young Professionals of Albuquerque and as the Vice President of Administration for MANA de Albuquerque. With her experience in strategic planning, programming, and organizational management, Marcela is dedicated to furthering the mission of MANA and advancing the Albuquerque chapter's initiatives to empower and support Latina leaders in the community.
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Marcela, a first-generation Mexican-American, is a proud alumna of the University of New Mexico, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Communications.
Monica Nuñez Hermanitas Director
Monica Nuñez, M.Ed (she/her/ella) has a long history of working in the educational field, and currently manages the teacher evaluation system at the State of New Mexico Public Education Department. Formerly the Albuquerque Public Schools Accountability Support Coordinator, Monica champions a fundamental belief that it takes a family to educate a child. By opening doors and including all family members to join the workshops, conversations, and relationships that emerge, she creates an atmosphere of inclusiveness and connectedness.
Monica has served as the Hermanitas Director since 2019. In this role, she primarily facilitates MANA’s mission of empowering Latinas through education, leadership development, community service, and advocacy. She is motivated in her advocacy and service to the Hermanitas Program, and tirelessly champions a culture of education in which academic persistence will characterize every Latina’s experience.
Monica is originally from San Bernardino, CA. She received her Master of Education from the University of Arkansas and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California - San Bernardino. As a proud mother of two fantastic adult children, Sophia and Michael, she understands the positive impact that community based organizations make on a young person’s life. Monica prioritizes building relationships and support systems for New Mexico’s youth.
Laura Flores Vice President of Community Relations
Laura Flores, MBA (she/her/ella) is the Regional Coordinator for Latino Outdoors and Partners and Outreach Manager for Nuestra Tierra. Laura has over 13 years of experience in education, working with youth of all ages.
Laura serves as the Vice President of Community Relations and works to foster partnerships with local and national organizations that have the same values as MANA de Albuquerque. She also supports connecting our hermanitas with the outdoors, fostering a love for the state’s landscapes and promoting conservation efforts and advocacy.
A first-generation college student, Laura received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and her Master’s in Business Administration with a focus in Educational Leadership from the University of New Mexico and Master’s in Special Education from New Mexico Highlands University.
Victoria Valdez Membership Coordinator
Victoria Valdez, MS-CBA (she/her/ella) is a Mfg Systems Software Development Engineer at Intel Corporation, where she contributes to automating factory operations and enhancing efficiency on the manufacturing line. Her professional background includes experience in project management and SCRUM master roles. Prior to joining Intel, Victoria worked in network security at the University of New Mexico, where she developed solutions to address cybersecurity challenges.
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As MANA’s Membership Coordinator, Victoria plays an integral role in fostering engagement within the organization. She organizes Chispa mixers, leads the AVANZAMOS program, and facilitates the onboarding process of our new members. Her commitment to MANA reflects her passion for empowering the Latina community and amplifying the organization’s impact.
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Victoria earned her Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems from the University of New Mexico, where she also completed a minor in Spanish. Additionally, she holds certificates in national security studies and critical technologies. She further advanced her expertise by earning a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Business Analytics from UNM. Go Lobos!
Olivia Padilla Communications Coordinator
Olivia Padilla, MBA (she/her/ella) is a Contract Specialist for Air Force Research Laboratory where she develops contracts for the procurement of operational and research & development needs for the advancement of the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. She has a background in legislative affairs and marketing, having previously worked in the New Mexico State Legislature and the United States Senate, where she supported policy and communications initiatives. Olivia also worked in the private sector as a publicist for a boutique public relations firm in Los Angeles, representing top restaurants and chefs.
Olivia leverages her marketing and communications experiences in her role as the Communications Coordinator for MANA de Albuquerque. She oversees the chapter’s traditional and digital marketing strategies to strengthen and support the chapter’s recruitment, retention, and community outreach efforts.
Olivia is from Albuquerque, NM. She received her Master of Business Administration in Advanced Strategy and Leadership from the University of Oregon, and her BA in International Studies and English from the University of New Mexico.