Los Angeles, CA The National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI) has selected Maria Rita Jaramillo as the recipient of the 2011 NHLI Alumna of the Year Award. The award was presented during the Kick-off Luncheon of NHLI's Executive Leadership Training Conference and Mujer Awards on Nov. 3 in Los Angeles.
Jaramillo is a member of the founding class of NHLI's Executive Program. She currently serves with the National Education Association (NEA), where she focuses on external partnerships and advocacy.
Prior to joining the NEA, she served as chief of staff to Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Texas, as his senior advisor on political and policy matters. She also served in the Clinton administration, where she was responsible for identifying and recommending Hispanics for senior appointments.
She has also held leadership positions in numerous civic and Hispanic organizations, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the National Latino Children's Institute and the National Hispana Leadership Institute, and is the recipient of the National Council of La Raza/Harvard University Fellowship and the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute's Cesar Chavez Community Service Award.