Latinas Today
Yesenia Mata Named Commissioner, New York City Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS)
Yesenia Mata is a U.S. Army captain, public servant, and nationally recognized immigrant rights leader whose life and career are rooted in service to both country and community. She brings that same commitment to her role as commissioner of the New York City Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS), where she is focused on advancing support for veterans, service members, and military families across the five boroughs. She currently serves as a civil affairs officer in the United States Army Reserve.
Mata began her military career in the enlisted ranks as a military police specialist, rising to the rank of sergeant before earning her commission as an officer. Her journey from enlisted service to Army captain reflects a deep commitment to leadership, discipline, and service above self. As both a service member and the spouse of an active-duty Army officer, she understands firsthand the sacrifices military families make and the enduring impact of service beyond the uniform.
Mata has also played important roles in policy and civic leadership. She served as a commissioner on the NYC Commission on Racial Equity and the NYC Racial Justice Commission and contributed to New York City’s Immigration Transition Team. Nationally, she served as the National Latino Outreach Strategist for Bernie Sanders. She also holds a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources. As commissioner of DVS, Mata brings together military service, executive leadership, policy experience, and a deeply personal understanding of what it means to advocate for people too often overlooked. Her life’s work reflects a powerful truth: service does not belong to one uniform, one identity, or one community. It belongs to all those who answer the call to support others, and she is committed to ensuring that New York City’s veterans and military families are seen, supported, and empowered.
Vanya Quiñones Named President of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Vanya
Quiñones to serve as president of California State Polytechnic University,
Pomona. Quiñones currently serves as president of Cal State Monterey Bay.
Quiñones’ 30-year career in education as a scientist, researcher, and
academic administrator has been centered on student success and diversity in the arts and sciences.
A neurobiologist, biopsychologist and noted researcher who has published more than 70 peer-reviewed papers, Quiñones was one of a handful of research pioneers who described gender differences in the brain and helped change the course of future research in that area.
Quiñones earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Master of Science in cell biology from the University of Puerto Rico, and a doctorate in neurobiology and physiology from Rutgers University.
She will assume the university presidency on July 1, 2026, becoming the eighth president of Cal Poly Pomona and the first Latina to lead the institution.
Natalia Osorio Quintero, Chief Strategy and Operations Officer, HISPA
Natalia Osorio Quintero is a strategic leader in marketing, technology, and social impact, with over 15 years of experience driving digital transformation, project management, and cross-cultural initiatives across Latin America and the U.S.
She has a proven track record of leading multicultural teams and
scaling programs that foster community engagement, inclusive growth, and organizational excellence.
Currently serving as Chief Strategy and Operations Officer at HISPA,
Osorio Quintero leads the organization’s overall strategy, operations, and
innovation efforts to expand impact and achieve long-term goals. She oversees cross-functional teams across program execution, volunteer management, communications, marketing, curriculum, and product development—ensuring alignment, efficiency, and measurable outcomes. Working closely with the CEO, she translates strategic vision into actionable plans with clear KPIs, timelines, and scalable systems that strengthen HISPA’s reach and effectiveness.