Dr. Nydia Martinez has been appointed executive director of the Latino Academy of Workforce Development, the non-profit organization’s board of directors announced Monday. Dr. Martinez, who was chosen following a national search, will succeed Baltazar de Anda Santana, who has stepped down after 12 years of dedicated service to the organization.
“I am thrilled to join the Latino Academy of Workforce Development as executive director,” Dr. Martinez said in a statement. “I am drawn to its mission of strengthening the diverse Latino immigrant community through linguistic and culturally competent adult education to transform the lives of individuals and families by offering opportunities for social and economic mobility. This resonates with me because this is my story and my family’s story when we moved to the United States.”
The Latino Academy of Workforce Development’s mission is “to strengthen diverse communities by providing linguistically and culturally competent adult education programming that advances opportunities to ensure that individuals and families thrive socially, economically, and civically.”
Dr, Martinez earned her doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in history from the University of New Mexico-Albuquerque and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Texas-San Antonio.
Dr. Martinez has over 10 years of leadership experience in post-secondary education and community engagement in the U.S. and Mexico, according to a press release from the Latino Academy’s board of directors, and she comes to the Latino Academy from Spokane, Washington, where she was Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Eastern Washington University. While at Eastern Washington University, Dr. Martinez also served as director of Chicano (Latino/a/x) Studies Program; as academic director of the College Assistance Migrant Program; and as co-chair of the university’s Presidential Hispanic Advisory Council.
“The Latino Academy is at a critical juncture, with tremendous opportunities to grow and increase its impact. Dr. Martinez’s entire career has been one of education, empowerment, and unwavering commitment to the Latino community,” said Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, the board president of the Latino Academy, in a statement. “We are so excited about the organization’s future under Dr. Martinez’s leadership.”
Dr. Martinez succeeds Baltazar de Anda Santana, who stepped down from his longtime role as executive director on March 2 and helped to found and transform the Latino Academy over the last 12 years. Dr. Martinez’s first official day will be Monday, July 29.
