Estela Hernandez, Executive Director
Estela Hernandez, an Emerge alum from our class of 2022, is a dynamic multi-sector leader with a career dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for historically underrepresented communities. Her diverse skill set, honed through experience in leadership coaching, political advocacy, campaign management, executive management, public health, and adult education, uniquely qualifies her for this role.
Born and raised in Las Cruces, Estela graduated with a Bachelor of Community Health degree from New Mexico State University. She then moved to Illinois to work in HIV prevention at the Lake County Health Department. Estela furthered her education at the Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago and earned her MBA in Design Strategy from California College of the Arts – San Francisco before returning to Las Cruces in 2012. Upon her return, Estela launched Elevar Coaching & Consulting (previously Spinnov8), taught Women’s Health Issues and Human Sexuality as a College Assistant Professor in the NMSU Department of Public Health Sciences, and served as an Enterprise Advisor at Arrowhead Center. She later launched the Arrowhead Innovation Fund, where she served as managing director and president. She is also one of only two Kauffman Fellows in New Mexico, joining an exclusive network of global investors and entrepreneurs driving innovation.
Her political advocacy began in 2001 with her work with the Tobacco Free Las Cruces Coalition, advocating for a city ordinance banning smoking in bars and restaurants in Las Cruces six years before a Statewide ban was passed. More recently, she served as the Latino Constituency Organizing Director on U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez’s campaign team in 2022. Estela was elected Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Doña Ana County in 2023. During the 2023 and 2024 New Mexico State Legislative Sessions, Estela advocated for crucial legislation, including NM House Bill 7: Reproductive and Gender Affirming Care, and NM Senate Bill 3: Paid Family & Medical Leave Act, as well as financial allocations for the New Mexico Behavioral Health Providers Association, NM Coalition of Sexual Assault Providers, NM Child Advocacy Services, and Civil Legal Services.