Past & Current Commissioners, Initiatives and Projects

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Iowa Latino Hall of Fame

• Latino Day on the Hill

• 2018 Policy Recommendations

• Letter to Congress about DACA and TPS

• 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

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

• Sonia Reyes, Executive Officer
• Elise Wheaton, Drake University Intern

• 2017 Policy Recommendations

• Letter to Governor Branstad 2017

• University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics-2016

• 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

• 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

• Participation in the Iowa Latinx Youth Leadership Conference-October 2016.

• 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  

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

• 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

• The Office of Latino Affairs was established
• Commission of Latino Affairs

• 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

• 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 

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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 

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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

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

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

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

• Miguel A. Terran, Executive Director
• Elloy L. Telles, Executive Secretary
• Paula A. Campos, Planning Aide
• Gregorio G. Rocha, Research Analyst

Conóceme en Iowa: The 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

Latinos Can Coalition