Our Team
Carli
PROGRAM MANAGER
Carli served her communities through local movement and direct service organizations from Las Cruces to Albuquerque for nearly a decade before joining the NMW.O team in 2018. She holds an MA in Educational Leadership from UNM, and double majored in Political Science and Economics for her undergraduate degrees at NMSU. As a multi-generational New Mexican and the mother to three beautiful small children, Carli is deeply invested in co-creating a future for our state in which all communities and individuals have access to the resources that enable them to thrive and lead meaningful lives. She enjoys walking the arroyos and writing poetry in her spare time and is on a constant learning journey at the intersection of healing, justice and more recently, parenting. It is her privilege to work for NewMexicoWomen.Org and be in community with the incredible organizations working to make our state safe and equitable for all New Mexicans.
Gwen
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Gwen comes to NMW.O with a background in learning design, having previously worked as an eLearning program manager and English teacher. She is currently working towards a master’s degree in library and information science, and her passion for education and gender justice informs her work assisting with the operations of NMW.O. In their free time, Gwen enjoys watching independent films, creating visual art, and exploring the Southwest through hiking and road trips.
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Rachel
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Having lived in eight states across the country, Rachel has been planting roots in New Mexico for over 20 years. Driven by keen curiosity and a love of justice, Rachel has dedicated her career to a variety of local and national schools and nonprofits. At NMW.O, Rachel uses her skills and experience to cultivate awareness of and support for gender justice and healing across the state. She holds a BA in English and a master’s degree in social work and public administration, focusing on nonprofit administration and conflict resolution. Outside of work, Rachel can be found on the cycling trails in Albuquerque, appreciating beauty with her family, or with her nose in a book.
505.219.1056
rachel@newmexicowomen.org
Téyo
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Téyo comes to this work as a creative, graphic notetaker, and facilitator whose work is rooted in cultural organizing and movement storytelling. They are drawn to social change work that honors creativity as a tool for connection, learning, and liberation. Grounded in collaboration and care, Teyo brings an artistic and vision oriented approach to their communications work with a focus on political education and community building. Outside of work, Téyo finds inspiration through visual art, walking in nature, and practices that invite imagination into everyday life.
Elsa
PROGRAM MANAGER
Elsa arrives at philanthropy after a 20-year trajectory as a community organizer, having spearheaded racial and economic justice campaigns in New Mexico and nationally to build power and advocate with immigrants and low-wage workers. She continues to be inspired by the tenacity and courage of New Mexican families who dare to reimagine and create a more just and equitable future, which ignites her commitment to resource the movements leading the work in our state. She is a photographer, a performing artist, and loves hiking and gardening.
Fatima
Senior Director of Research and Strategy
Fatima has 20 years of experience working in nonprofits and philanthropic foundations focused on social justice. She has a PhD in Educational Thought and Sociocultural Studies and is committed to community-based research as a strategy for social change. Fatima is also a poet.
Melanie
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Melanie, a native of New Mexico, brings 25 years of experience in accounting and operations to her role with NewMexicoWomen.Org. Over the course of her non-profit career, she has supported organizations committed to arts, education, and family and youth services across southeastern and northern New Mexico. From an early age, Melanie was deeply moved by the injustices she witnessed in her own community and around the world. These experiences left a lasting impact, fueling her desire to use her skills to support organizations working for more just and equitable communities. Melanie is honored to contribute to the philanthropic work of NMW.O and stand in solidarity with the many groups across the state fighting for change. She draws strength and inspiration from the beauty of the world, particularly through nature, art, and design. She is also a mother, a certified life coach, and a passionate home gardener.
Renee
Senior Director of Grantmaking & Community Partnerships
Renee is a native Santa Fean and a multi-generational Nuevomexicana. She approaches her work and life deeply committed to place-based community advocacy centered on equity, justice, mutuality and self-determination. Renee holds a Masters in Community and Regional Planning and applied her studies as a Community Planner for 7 years where she gained valuable experience advocating for traditional and indigenous land-based rural communities. She began working in the philanthropic sector in 2011 with the goal of finding more ways to equitably distribute resources to the most marginalized communities, while supporting movement and coalition building. At NewMexicoWomen.Org she values the connections and learnings from grantee and community partners. In her free time, she enjoys wilderness adventures, dancing, following local politics, and volunteering for community causes that center justice. Renee is also a former elected official, serving as a Councilwoman for the City of Santa Fe from 2016 to 2023.
In Memoriam: Sarah Ghiorse
PRESIDENT & CEO FROM 2013 - 2026
Sarah Ghiorse was NewMexicoWomen.Org’s (NMW.O) beloved CEO and President from 2013–2026. A visionary leader in philanthropy, she mobilized millions of dollars towards work at the intersection of social justice and collective care, shaping NMW.O into a powerful force for gender justice across the state.
Under Sarah’s leadership, NMW.O grew from a small program of the New Mexico Community Foundation—with just two staff members and a $50,000 grantmaking budget—into the only statewide foundation focused exclusively on women, girls, and gender nonconforming people granting over $1 million annually to communities across New Mexico.
Sarah was both visionary and humble. She was deeply committed to feminist and shared leadership practices, and she cultivated the growth and creativity of her staff. She believed that power building, grounded in relationships and collective imagination, drives lasting cultural and systemic change.
Sarah lived in Santa Fe, where she found joy in cooking, hiking, and spending time with her teenage children. She is remembered for her leadership and for the warmth, integrity, and care she brought to her community.