Anita Fernández

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. A Graduate of Southwestern University with a B.A. in Latin American Studies and a focus in Anthropology. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, M.A. She has lived and studied in D.F., Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Chiapas, México. Anita has professional experience in state and local government, nonprofit management, education and the arts. During her time in the Texas Legislature as Chief of Staff for a Texas State Representative she led the Capitol and District offices and various community and policy initiatives, in the areas of Public Education, Transportation, Urban Affairs, Healthcare and Immigration. She was a pivotal contributor to the development of community and public affairs during her time at the Museo Alameda, the first formal Smithsonian affiliate in the U.S. and the official Latino Museum of Texas. While working in public education, she developed and implemented college readiness curriculum for the K – 12 grade levels.

 

For 15 years, she has served as the volunteer Project Administrator for the National Hispanic Institute (NHI) at San Antonio’s Great Debate Team, an international leadership experience for high school students. Anita is a member of the Board of Managers for University Health, Community First Health Plans, Texas Women in Trades founding Board Member, the Advisory Board for the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute of Texan Cultures, the Klebrg for Commissioner Advisory Council, as well as the Marianist Urban Students Program. Previously, she has served as the City Council District 1 Appointee for the San Antonio SA2020 Commission on Education as well as on the Board of Directors for the National Hispanic Institute and the San Antonio River Foundation.

 

In 2016 she was recognized as Southwestern University’s Distinguished Young Alumna. In 2018 she received the NHI’s Distinguished Alumna in Community Leadership Award and has been one of NHI’s Top 100 Emerging Latino Leaders. Most recently she has been recognized as part of the San Antonio Business Journal’s 2021 “40 under 40”.