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Past & Current Commissioners, Initiatives and Projects

Past Commissioners, Initiatives and Projects

 

YEAR OFFICIAL NAME STAFF & TITLE INITIATIVES & PROJECTS COMMISSIONERS

May 2020-April 2021

  • Office of Latino Affairs, Department of Human Rights

  • Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs

  • Sonia Reyes, Executive Officer 
  • Nayely Hurtado, Spanish Helpline Coordinator
  • Karen Ruiz, Grandview College Intern
  • CALEB KNUTSON-Chair, Des Moines

  • MARLU ABARCA-Co-Chair Des Moines

  • LORENA GINGERICH-Secretary, West Branch 

  • LOUIS MORENO, Des Moines

  • GILBERT NUNEZ, Hubbart

  • DALILA AVILA SAJADIAN, Mason City

  • VACANCY

  • Ex officio member: SAN WONG, DHR Director

May2019-April 2020
  • Office of Latino Affairs, Department of Human Rights

  • Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs

  • Sonia Reyes, Executive Officer 
  • Cecilia Martinez, Latinos Can Coalition Coordinator
  • Alexandra Foster, Iowa State University Intern
  • Anna Mier, Iowa State University Intern
  • Cassandra Bucklin, Iowa State University Intern
  • JEANNETTE BROWN-Chair, Des Moines

  • MARLU ABARCA-Co-Chair Des Moines

  • LORENA GINGERICH-Secretary, West Branch 

  • CALEB KNUTSON

  • GILBERT NUNEZ, Hubbart

  • VALERIE NULTE, Carlisle

  • Al PEREZ, Ankeny

  • Ex officio member: SAN WONG, DHR Director

May 2018-April 2019
  • Office of Latino Affairs, Department of Human Rights

  • Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs

  • Sonia Reyes, Executive Officer
  • Brenda Villanueva, Iowa State University Intern
  • Kimberly Thomas, Iowa State University Intern
  • JEANNETTE BROWN-Chair, Des Moines

  • MARLU ABARCA-Co-Chair Des Moines

  • LORENA GINGERICH-Secretary, West Branch 

  • JUAN RODRIGUEZ, Des Moines

  • Al PEREZ, Ankeny

  • VACANCY

  • VACANCY

  • Ex officio member: SAN WONG, DHR Director

May 2017-

April 2018

Red Book Pg. 205

  • Office of Latino Affairs, Department of Human Rights

  • Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs

  • Sonia Reyes, Executive Officer
  • Ruby Cordova, Drake University Intern
  • Taylor Bradley, University of Iowa Intern
  • JEANNETTE BROWN-Chair, Des Moines

  • MARLU ABARCA-Co-Chair Des Moines

  • LORENA GINGERICH-Secretary, West Branch 

  • MICHELLE REUSS, Washington

  • ALEJANDRO PINO, Cedar Rapids

  • JUAN RODRIGUEZ, Des Moines

  • VACANCY

  • Ex officio member: SAN WONG, DHR Director

May 2016- April 2017 

Red Book Pg. 200

  • Office of Latino Affairs, Department of Human Rights
  • Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs
  • Sonia Reyes, Executive Officer
  • Elise Wheaton, Drake University Intern
  • MICHELLE REUSS-Chair, Washington

  • JEANNETTE BROWN-Co-Chair, Des Moines

  • MARLU ABARCA-Secretary, Des Moines

  • ALEJANDRO PINO, Cedar Rapids

  • JUAN RODRIGUEZ, Des Moines

  • LORENA GINGERICH, West Branch 

  • VACANCY

  • Ex officio member: SAN WONG, DHR Director

May 2015-April 2016

Red Book Pg. 200

  • Office of Latino Affairs, Department of Human Rights
  • Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs
  • Sonia Reyes-Snyder, Executive Office (started in January of 2016)
  • Alba Perez, Executive Officer
  • SAL ALANIZ-Chair, Mount Pleasant
  • MARIA LARA, Carlisle
  • ALEJANDRO PINO, Cedar Rapids
  • GLORIA RODRIGUEZ, Denison
  • JUAN RODRIGUEZ, Des Moines
  • RAMON RODRIGUEZ, Pleasant Hill
  • Ex officio member: SAN WONG, DHR Director

2013-2014

Red Book Pg. 202-203

  • Office of Latino Affairs, Department of Human Rights
  • Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs
Alba Peres, Executive Officer
  • Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs Members 1979-NOW
  • Awards
  • Interpreters Project
  • Made In Iowa
  • Iowa Youth Congress
  • Iowa Latino Breakfast
  • Latino Conference
  • English Only Memo
  • Rally in Des Moines

In the News

  • Tama News
  • Perry Article
  • YCPP
  • SAL ALANIZ, Mount Pleasant 
  • REBECCA JACKSON, Denison
  • JOAN JAIMES, Marshalltown 
  • MARIA LARA, Carlisle
  • ALEJANDRO PINO, Cedar Rapids
  • JUAN RODRIGUEZ, Des Moines
  • RAMON RODRIGUEZ, Pleasant Hill
  • Ex officio member: SAN WONG, DHR Director

2011-2012

Red Book Pg. 201

  • The Office of Latino Affairs was established
  • Commission of Latino Affairs
VACANT- Executive Officer
  • SANDRA SAHNCEHZ-NAERT-Chair, Des Moines
  • SAL ALANIZ, Mount Pleasant 
  • RAMON CANTU, Cedar Falls
  • REBECCA JACKSON, Denison
  • JOAN JAIMES, Marshalltown 
  • PAULA MARTINEZ, Carlisle
  • ALEJANDRO PINO, Cedar Rapids
  • Ex officio member: SAN WONG, DHR Director

2009-2010

Red BookPg. 191 

  • Iowa Division of Latino Affairs, Iowa Department of Human Rights
  • Commission of Latino Affairs

Melissa Esquivel-Interim Administrator

  • SANDRA SAHNCEHZ-NAERT-Chair, Granger 
  • SAL ALANIZ, Mount Pleasant 
  • NORMA AZPEITA, Sioux City
  • RUBEN CASTILLO, Coralville 
  • NANCY DYKSTRA, Hull 
  • FELIPE GALLARDO, Des Moines
  • JUAN HERNANDEZ-SANTANA, Ottumwa 
  • JOAN JAIMES, Marshalltown 
  • PAULA MARTINEZ, Carlisle
  • Ex officio member: PRESTON DANIELS, DHR Director 

2007-2008

Red Book Pg. 193-194

  • Iowa Division of Latino Affairs, Iowa Department of Human Rights
  • Commission of Latino Affairs

Armando Villarreal- Administrator

 
  • PAULA MARTINEZ-Chair, Carlisle
  • SAL ALANIZ, Mount Pleasant 
  • NATHANAEL BLAKE, Des Moines
  • NANCY DYKSTRA, Hull 
  • FELIPE GALLARDO, Des Moines
  • ANGEL GONZALEZ, Iowa City
  • SYLVIA LOWRANCE, Marshalltown
  • ALFRED RAMIREZ, Cedar Rapids
  • NORA RODRIGUEZ-KIRTOVIC , Waterloo
  • Ex officio member: WALTER REED, DHR Director

2005-2006

Red Book Pg. 190

  • Iowa Division of Latino Affairs, Iowa Department of Human Rights
  • Commission of Latino Affairs

Armando Villarreal- Administrator

  • JASON FOLLETT, Chair, Ankeny
  • OSCAR ARGUETA, Mt. Pleasant 
  • NATHANAEL BLAKE, Des Moines
  • MARIA CARLA CHIARELLA, Altoona
  • PAULA MARTINEZ, Carlisle
  • SARA MONROY-HUDDLESTON, Storm Lake 
  • PABLO QUINTANILLA, Sioux City
  • ANA WAGNER, Burlington

2003-2004

  • Iowa Division of Latino Affairs, Iowa Department of Human Rights
  • Commission of Latino Affairs
  1. John-Paul Chiasson-Cardenas, Administrator
  2. Erineo Eddy Espinoza, Program Planner I
  3. Rossany Brugger, Secretary
  4. Maria Sol Varisco-Santini, Intern
  5. Tasha Weitl, Intern
  6. Virginia Arrigucci, Intern
  7. Carolyn Reed, Intern
  • JASON FOLLETT, Ankeny (Chair)
  • MAX CARDENAS, Des Moines (Vice-Chair)
  • PAULA MARTINEZ, Carlisle (Secretary)
  • SANDRA SANCHEZ-NAERT, Granger
  • MARTY FRANK MARTINEZ, Ames
  • SARA MONROY-HUDDLESTON, Storm Lake
  • HERIBERTO GODINA, Iowa City
  • EUGENIA HERNANDEZ, Iowa City
  • PATRICIA TAYLOR , Des Moines
  • Ex-oficio Member RUTH WHITE, DHR Director

2001-2002

  • Iowa Division of Latino Affairs, Iowa Department of Human Rights
  • Commission of Latino Affairs
  1. Elizabeth Salinas Newby, Administrator
  2. Christine Taylor, Administrative Assistant
  3. JoAnn Mackey, Program Planner II
  4. Amy Ostrander, Practicum Student
  • JASON FOLLETT
  • LORENZO JASSO
  • FRANK MARTINEZ
  • SARA MONROY-HUDDLESTON
  • IRENE MUÑOS
  • JOHN PAUL CHAISSON
  • EDWARD CERVANTES
  • PAULA MARTINEZ
  • VERONIA GONZALEZ-MENDEZ
  • Ex-oficio Member ROSE VASQUEZ, DHR Director

1999-2000

Red Book Pg. 143

  • Iowa Division of Latino Affairs, Iowa Department of Human Rights
  • Commission of Latino Affairs
  1. Elizabeth Salinas Newby, Administrator
  2. (Appointed 9/17/1999)
  3. Christine Taylor, Administrative Assistant
  4. JoAnn Mackey, Program Planner II
  5. Amy Ostrander, Practicum Student
  • JOHN-PAUL CHAISSON, Coralville
  • GUADALUPE FLORES, Muscatine
  • EDMUNDO HUNTER CAVAZOS, Muscatine
  • EDWARD CERVANTES, Bettendorf
  • RAY GIMENEZ, Clinton
  • PAULA MARTINEZ, Carlisle
  • MARIA Y. MORAVEC, Sioux City
  • VERONICA MENDEZ, Ft. Madison/Burlington
  • SALLY FAZ-ODONNELL, Sioux City
  • MARY CHAVEZ, Des Moines
  • Ex-oficio Member ROSE VASQUEZ, DHR Director 

1997-1998

Red Book Pg. 157

  • Iowa Division of Latino Affairs, Iowa Department of Human Rights
  • Commission of Latino Affairs
Sylvia Tijerina, Administrator
  • RAY GIMENEZ, Clinton (Chair)
  • JOSE AMAYA, Ames, (Vice-Chair)
  • VERONICA MENDEZ, Montrose (Secretary)
  • ROBERT DERANLEAU, Creston (Parliamentarian)
  • MARIA Y. MORAVEC, Sioux City (Parliamentarian)
  • JOHN-PAUL CHAISSON, Coralville
  • J. GUADALUPE FLORES, Muscatine
  • PAULA MARTINEZ, Carlisle
  • Ex-officio Member ALMO HAWKINS, DHR Director

1995-1996

 Red Book Pg. 149

  • Iowa Division of Latino Affairs, Iowa Department of Human Rights
  • Commission of Latino Affairs

Sylvia Tijerina, Administrator

  • OLGA ARELLANO, chair, Council Bluffs
  • THOMAS GUZMAN, vice chair, Des Moines
  • REYNALDO CARDENAS, West Liberty
  • ROSA MARIA DE FINDLAY, Cedar Falls
  • SISTER CAROL HAWKINS, Storm Lake
  • MARIA NESBIT, Des Moines
  • ROBERT MATA, Marshalltown
  • ALMO HAWKINS, Director, Department of Human Rights; Des Moines

1993-1994

Red Book Pg. 157

  • Iowa Division of Latino Affairs, Iowa Department of Human Rights
  • Commission of Latino Affairs

Sylvia Tijerina, Administrator

  • OLGA ARELLANO, chair, Council Bluffs
  • LINDA BATA, Davenport
  • ROSA MARIA DE FINDLAY, Cedar Falls
  • CHRISTINA M. GONZALES, Des Moines
  • THOMAS GUZMAN, Des Moines
  • MARIA NESBITT, Des Moines
  • LANDO VALADEZ, West Des Moines

1991-1992

Red Book Pg. 161

  • Iowa Division of Latino Affairs, Iowa Department of Human Rights
  • Commission of Latino Affairs

Celso Ramirez, Administrator

  • MARY KIERNAN, chair, Neola
  • TERESA A. GARCIA, Coralville
  • CHRISTINA M. GONZALES, Des Moines
  • JAIME HERNANDEZ, Ames
  • TOMAS D. MUNOZ, Polk City
  • JIM RAMOS, Des Moines;
  • JULIO RODRIGUEZ, Sioux City
  • JUANITA WRIGHT, Cedar Falls

1989-1990

Red Book Pg. 161

  • Division for Spanish Speaking People, Department of Human Rights
  • Spanish Speaking Peoples Commission

The Division of Latino Affairs was officially named in 1990.

John A. Rodriguez, Administrator

  • WILFREDO AZUL LA LUZ, Sioux City
  • DR. NANCY BARCELO, Iowa City
  • CHRISTINA M. GONZALES, Des Moines
  • SYLVIA RODRIGUEZ, Davenport
  • STEFFEN W. SCHMIDT, Ames
  • JUANITA WRIGHT, Cedar Falls

1987-1988

Red Book Pg. 364

  • Spanish Speaking Peoples Commission, Iowa Department of Human Rights

The Commission was moved to the Iowa Deparment of Human Rights.

Miguel Teran, Executive Director

  • ALFREDO BENAVIDEZ, Iowa City
  • LARRY M. BOLANOS, Sioux City
  • JOHN RAY DELGADO, Burlington
  • CHRISTINA M. GONZALES, Des Moines
  • RUDOLPH T. JUAREZ, Muscatine
  • FLORENCE KELLER, Council Bluffs
  • SYLVIA RODRIGUEZ, Davenport
  • STEFFEN W. SCHMIDT, Ames
  • JOHN SERRANO, JR., Davenport

1985-1986

Red Book Pg. 361

Spanish Speaking Peoples Commission, 
Civil Rights Commission

Miguel Teran, Executive Director

  • ALFREDO BENAVIDEZ, Iowa City
  • JOHN RAY DELGADO, Burlington
  • STEFFEN W. SCHMIDT, Ames
  • MARIA GARCIA MAY, Des Moines
  • RUDOLPH T. JUAREZ, Muscatine
  • JOHN SERRANO, JR., Davenport
  • EMILIO D. VALDEZ, Muscatine
  • FLORENCE KELLER, Council Bluffs

1983-1984

Red Book Pg. 482

Spanish Speaking Peoples Commission, 
Civil Rights Commission

Miguel Teran, Executive Director

 
  • ALFREDO BENAVIDEZ, Iowa City
  • JOHN RAY DELGADO, Burlington
  • VIRGINIA CORREA JONES, Ames
  • MARIA GARCIA MAY, Des Moines
  • ILA PLASENCIA, Des Moines
  • ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ, Davenport
  • JOHN SERRANO, JR., Davenport
  • JOHN D. TUCKER, Clinton

1981-1982

Red Book Pg. 482

Spanish Speaking Peoples Commission

Miguel Teran, Executive Director

 
  • ALFREDO BENAVIDEZ, Iowa City
  • HERBERT BECCERA, Council Bluffs
  • JUAN CADENA, Muscatine
  • VIRGINIA CORREA JONES, Ames
  • SISTER IRENE MUNOZ, Muscatine
  • ILA PLASENCIA, Des Moines
  • ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ, Davenport

1979-1980

Red Book Pg. 280

Spanish Speaking Peoples Commission

Hector O. Sanchez, Executive Director

 
  • HERBERT BECCERA, Council Bluffs
  • JUAN CADENA, Muscatine
  • JORGE GOMEZ, JR., Davenport
  • SISTER IRENE MUNOZ, Muscatine
  • ILA PLASENCIA, Des Moines
  • ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ, Davenport
1975 Governor' Spanish Speaking Task Force
  • Miguel A. Terran, Executive Director
  • Elloy L. Telles, Executive Secretary
  • Paula A. Campos, Planning Aide
  • Gregorio G. Rocha, Research Analyst

Conóceme en IowaThe Official Report of the Governor's Spanish Speaking Task Force Submitted to Governor Robert D. Ray and the 66th General Assembly.

Board of Directors

  • RICARDO PABON - Chairman
  • ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ - Vice Chairman
  • ILA PLASENCIA - Secretary
  • JUAN CADENA
  • VITOLDS VALAINIS
  • JOSE GUZMAN
  • HERBERT BECERRA
  • FIDEL ALVAREZ