SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, October 20, 2025 – The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) announces the appointment of Mari Hernandez as NALAC CEO and President. Mari Hernandez joined the organization in 2022, previously served as the NALAC Program Manager of Leadership Institutes & Convenings, and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2024. She succeeds María López De León, who led the organization for over twenty-five years and retired at the end of 2023.
“I am excited and deeply honored to lead the organization from this new position. I look forward to working with our staff and partners to continue and strengthen NALAC’s legacy of investing in the critical work of Latinx/e artists and organizations,” Hernandez said. “The arts and culture landscape is in a pivotal moment. Together, we will navigate the complexities facing us and continue to advance our collective impact across this country to build a more just and vibrant arts ecosystem.”
“The board is proud and pleased to announce Mari’s appointment. She is a steadfast leader, community builder and a strong visionary in these urgent times. After a nationwide search, it is so wonderful that the perfect candidate was a NALAC-grown leader who is an alum of our Leadership and Advocacy Institutes and who has already been leading the organization since Maria’s retirement,” shared Charles Rice-González, NALAC’s Board Chair. “Mari has our full confidence, and we look forward to the new opportunities for growth and possibilities at NALAC as we transition into the next phase of the organization and lead through this challenging time in our country.
Mari Hernandez has over twenty-five years of artistic practice and arts administration experience. She joined the organization in 2022 as the NALAC Program Manager of Leadership Institutes & Convenings, overseeing the planning and production of NALAC’s professional development programs, including the NALAC Leadership Institute (NLI), NALAC Advocacy Institute (ALI), and facilitating NALAC’s participation in the Intercultural Leadership Institute (ILI). Prior to joining NALAC, Hernandez served as the Education Manager for the Contemporary at Blue Star, where she developed and provided strategic oversight for the education department. As the Program Manager at San Anto Cultural Arts, she directed programs to promote human and community growth through the arts. As a practicing artist, Hernandez was a finalist in the 2022 National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition and has shown her work locally, nationally, and internationally. She is an alum of NALAC’s Leadership Institute (NLI) and Advocacy Leadership Institute (ALI) programs.
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About NALAC
The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) is the nation’s premier nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to the promotion, advancement, development, and cultivation of the Latino arts field. For more information about NALAC and its programs, please visit www.nalac.org.
Media Contact
Penny Rodriguez, Director of Communications, prodriguez@nalac.org