Latinas Today
Rosevelie Márquez Morales Named President of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)
Rosevelie Márquez Morales has taken the helm of the Hispanic National Bar Association as the 48th president, serving in the post since the founding of the organization in 1972. Márquez Morales is the Chief Inclusion Officer for the Americas at Hogan Lovells, where she oversees the firm’s strategic plan related to inclusion initiatives within the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Fordham School of Law. Before becoming a full-time inclusion professional, Márquez Morales was a litigation partner at a firm in NYC.
Márquez Morales also serves on the board of the Fordham Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, as chair of ASPIRA of NY, a non-profit youth leadership organization.
Márquez Morales graduated from Fordham School of Law and Barnard College of Columbia University. She also has a Change Management Certificate from Cornell University, an Executive Leadership in Women’s Certificate from Yale, and a Leadership Certificate from Harvard.
Northeastern Massachusetts YWCA Appoints Maricelis Ortiz as CEO
Maricelis Ortiz has been named CEO of YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts, succeeding Susan Staples after her 21-year tenure. A 28-year veteran of the organization and its first Latina CEO, Ortiz has served as the organization’s chief operating officer for two years.
Ortiz has been with the YWCA for 28 years. Ortiz brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having been with the YWCA for 28 years. Her deep understanding of the organization’s mission, paired with her academic credentials – a bachelor’s in psychology and a Master’s in Non-Profit Management and Philanthropy – uniquely positions her to continue driving the YWCA’s vital work in Essex County and the Merrimack Valley.
The YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts serves over 25 community programs across Essex County, helping thousands of women, children, and families. As Ortiz steps into her new role, she remains focused on furthering the YWCA’s mission of empowering women and eliminating racism through advocacy, support, and outreach.
Angel Ramirez, First Latina Elected to the Iowa Legislature
Rep. Angel Ramirez is the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants and is a first-generation college graduate. She won a special election to fill the House District 78 seat vacated by Sami Scheetz, who resigned to serve on the Linn County Board of Supervisors.
"I'm looking forward to helping make Iowa a safer, more accessible, more welcoming, inclusive place for all," she says. "So that other people can stay here ... and feel like they have a home here — especially the younger generation.”
Ramirez is from California and Arizona and is the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants. She moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to study at Coe College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in political science and social and criminal justice. Ramirez is co-founder and executive director for Our Future, a non-profit fellowship program for emerging leaders in the Cedar Rapids region.