Teresa Acuña has been working in state and national politics for the last eight years. Most recently, Director of Policy and Leadership Programs at the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) in Washington, DC, a premier coalition of the nation’s 40 leading Latino organizations advocating on behalf of Latinos in the United States. Teresa co-managed a national effort focused on increasing diversity in presidential appointments and in elected office.

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She also worked in Congress as Legislative Director to Representative Gloria Negrete McLeod and in California state politics as a lobbyist and in various positions in the state legislature.  Teresa served as Legislative Director for Assemblymember Luis Alejo, helping secure $2.1 million in infrastructure funding for a farmworker community.  A former California State Senate Fellow and Legislative Aide to Senator Gilbert Cedillo, she helped usher various pieces of legislation that sought to diminish social and civil inequalities. 

 

Teresa has also worked on numerous campaigns across the state of California.  She is a Roy and Lila Ash Student Fellow and a Sheila C. Johnson Leadership Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. Teresa is a graduate from San Diego State University, majoring in Political Science and Chicana/o Studies and a native of California.

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