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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Born and raised in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Julia 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.
Angelina Flores - Montoya Secretary
Hermanitas Director since 2019 - Her primary role is to facilitate MANA’s mission of empowering Latinas through education, leadership development, community service and advocacy. Monica provides teacher evaluation support to New Mexico's educators as a Liaison for the State of New Mexico Public Education Department. Formerly Albuquerque Public Schools Accountability Support Coordinator, Ms. Nuñez 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. Ms. Nuñez inspires a culture of education in which academic persistence will characterize every Latina’s experience. Ms. Nuñez’s emphasis on building relationships and support systems for New Mexico’s youth led her to earn her certification in restorative practices in education, and through the MANA de Albuquerque chapter, her role as the Hermanitas Director focuses on mentoring and supporting young Latina students.
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.
Monica Nuñez Hermanitas Director
Hermanitas Director since 2019 - Her primary role is to facilitate MANA’s mission of empowering Latinas through education, leadership development, community service and advocacy. Monica provides teacher evaluation support to New Mexico's educators as a Liaison for the State of New Mexico Public Education Department. Formerly Albuquerque Public Schools Accountability Support Coordinator, Ms. Nuñez 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. Ms. Nuñez inspires a culture of education in which academic persistence will characterize every Latina’s experience. Ms. Nuñez’s emphasis on building relationships and support systems for New Mexico’s youth led her to earn her certification in restorative practices in education, and through the MANA de Albuquerque chapter, her role as the Hermanitas Director focuses on mentoring and supporting young Latina students.
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
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!