Press Release

NAHJ Makes Additions to New Board of Directors

Washington D.C.– The National Association of Hispanic Journalists made several new additions to its board of directors. Earlier this month, the association elected regional directors for regions two, four, five and seven. The remaining regional directorships have now been filled either by special election ballots or by appointment by the NAHJ president, Veronica Villafañe. The appointed individuals will be ratified by the board at a later date.

COMPLETE ELECTION RESULTS (new additions in bold):

Claudio Alvarez-Dunn, managing editor for Primera Hora, is the region one director. He ran uncontested and replaces Ruth Merino, a training coordinator for El Nuevo Día, who will remain on the board as the region one alternate.

Region one includes Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Virgin Islands.

Joanna Hernandez, an editor for NY Times Regional Newspapers, is the region two director. She ran uncontested and replaces Daniel Roca, a freelance producer and director, who did not seek re-election.

Region two includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Regina Medina, a reporter with the Philadelphia Daily News, is the region three director. She was appointed by the NAHJ President (pending board ratification) and replaces Elaine Rivera, a freelance writer, who did not seek re-election.

Region three includes Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Maria T. Padilla, an editorial writer for the Orlando Sentinel, is the region four director. She defeated Geraldine “Jerry” Berrios, a reporter for The Miami Herald, who sought re-election to the position.

Region four includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Manuel de la Rosa, a reporter for KRGV-TV, is the region five director. He ran uncontested and replaces Gary Piña, the Arlington news editor for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, who did not seek re-election.

Region five includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

Yolanda Lopez de Otero, a news director with Univision, is the region six director. She was appointed by the NAHJ President (pending board ratification) and replaces Margarita Bauza, a reporter with The Detroit Free Press, who did not seek re-election.

Region six includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Elizabeth Aguilera, a reporter for The Denver Post, will remain the region seven director. She sought re-election and ran unopposed.

Region seven includes Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Jacqueline Llamas Espinoza, an anchor/reporter with KWHY-KVEA Telemundo, keeps her position as region eight director. She sought re-election and defeated Veronica Garcia, a copy editor with the Los Angeles Times, who will act as region eight's alternate.

Region eight includes Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

For more information on NAHJ’s new board members, please visit www.nahj.org.