Dr. Sandra J. Rodriguez of Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been elected as Chair of MANA, A National Latina Organization, by the National Board of Directors at its January 2006 meeting. Ms. Bridget Gonzalez of Washington, DC, was elected Vice Chair, Ms. Belda Garza of Detroit, Michigan, as Treasurer, and Mr. Jose “Pepe” Estrada of Bentonville, Arkansas, as National Board Secretary.

Dr. Rodriguez has a career dedicated to education and community service. She received her MA and BA in Education from the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico, focusing on at-risk students. She went on to receive her PhD in Multicultural Teacher and Childhood Education and currently serves as Director of the Education Department at the College of Santa Fe. Dr. Rodriguez first joined MANA in 1999. She served two terms as Chapter President of MANA del Norte in Santa Fe, and later chaired the HERMANITAS® program until 2001. Dr. Rodriguez is an AvanZamos® Ford Fellow of the Class of 2002. She has also taken an active role within the National Board where she has served as Vice Chair of the organization.

Ms. Bridget Gonzales, a MANA Lifetime Member, brings years of experience to the role of Vice Chair. Ms. Gonzales currently serves as Chief, Office of the Associate Director of Legislation, Education and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Government. She is an expert in public affairs, public policy, and public administration. At MBDA, Ms. Gonzales oversees key activities including congressional and intergovernmental relations, public affairs, media relations and the National Minority Enterprise Development Conference. Before MBDA, Ms. Gonzales served as Vice President for Edelman Public Relations, the world’s largest independent public relations firm. Prior to this position, she was an Assistant Vice President for Issue Dynamics, Inc., and Legislative Director for then Congresswoman, now Senator, Debbie Stabenow.

MANA’s new Treasurer, The Honorable Belda Garza, is a long-time member of MANA and currently serves as President of MANA de Detroit. She was awarded MANA’s prestigious Las Primeras® Award for being the first Latina state representative to the Michigan State Legislature, in which she served two terms. She is currently a principle Associate for PMA Consultants in Detroit and is a respected community activist. Ms. Garza serves on the Detroit Independent Schools Board of Directors, is a member of the Hispanic Business Alliance, and was appointed by Governor Granholm of the State of Michigan to the Commission of Spanish Speaking Affairs to represent the general public. She previously served two terms on the MANA National Board of Directors.

Dr. Jose “Pepe” Estrada, MANA’s National Secretary, serves as the Director of Hispanic Markets for the Office of Diversity for Wal-mart Stores, Inc. Dr. Estrada brings incredible insight into Hispanic issues and is a recipient of the MANA Padrino Award for his dedication to the organization and the Latino community. Prior to becoming Board Secretary, he served as MANA’s Treasurer, starting in 2003. He received his PhD in Economics from North Carolina State University in Raleigh and he is Chair of the National Hispanic Corporate Council Board of Directors. Dr. Estrada is active with the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Corporate Board of Advisors, the Cuban American National Council Corporate Board of Advisors, and the League of United Latin American Citizens Corporate Alliance. In Bentonville, Arkansas (his current hometown), Dr. Estrada is involved with Keep Benton County Beautiful and with the North West Arkansas Community College Multicultural Task Force.

Dr. Mark Lombardi, President of the College of Santa Fe, hosted a reception for the MANA National Board in January 2006. MANA’s two Chapters in New Mexico, MANA del Norte and MANA de Albuquerque, participated and the event was a great success. Among those who spoke at the event were the Honorable Rebecca Vigil-Giron, New Mexico Secretary of State and MANA Las Primeras® Award recipient; the Honorable Jim Trujillo, Representative to the New Mexico House of Representatives; and the Honorable Petra Jimenez Maes, New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice and also a MANA Las Primeras Award recipient. Speaking on behalf of MANA were Evangeline Elizondo, Immediate Past Chair, Founding Member and Las Primeras Award recipient, and Alma Morales Riojas, the organization’s National President and CEO.

Dr. Lombardi announced that the College of Santa Fe will Host MANA’s 2007 National Conference at the school. Cooperation between the College and MANA has a long history, as the two entities have partnered to strengthen the MANA HERMANITAS® Program and other youth leadership programs.

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MANA, A National Latina Organization, is a nonprofit, advocacy organization headquartered in the nation's capital, Washington, D. C. With chapters across the country, it is the oldest National Latina membership organization in the United States. MANA, whose mission is to empower Latinas through leadership development, community service, and advocacy, envisions a national community of informed Latina activists working to improve the quality of life for all Hispanics. MANA also has the only national young Latina's mentoring program for girls 11 to 17, "HERMANITAS®" which brings over 100 girls to Washington DC to a summer institute that includes a briefing at the White House and a visit to the girls' Congressional representatives Information on MANA can be obtained at the web site: www.hermana.org or send an e-mail to hermana2@aol.com