Cindy Nava is a proud immigrant and lifelong policy advocate. The daughter of a construction worker and a housekeeper, her parents came to the U.S. seeking a better life for their children. Cindy learned early what families go through to make ends meet. 

Cindy is a committed public servant. As the Executive Director of Transform Education New Mexico, Cindy spearheaded the creation of a platform to advance education reform that reflects and incorporates the cultural heritage of our diverse communities in our state, values educators, and ensures resources are allocated to public schools to ensure success. 

With the support of her family, Cindy became the first in her family to graduate college and the first Dreamer (DACA recipient) in the country to be appointed by the White House, where she served as Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Cindy’s work nationally included the expansion of HUD resources to support affordable housing across the department’s 64 field offices, the implementation of innovative methods to address homelessness, and ongoing Tribal engagement in partnership with the Office of Native American Programs and the First ever HUD Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee .

Cindy is a longtime resident of Bernalillo, where she shares a home with her husband Hector and their two dogs, Pebbles and Khloe. Cindy’s goal is to ensure all residents of District 9 can build their own New Mexican dream—and that starts with a world-class public school system, access to affordable housing, and affordable healthcare for all. 

Cindy Nava: A lifetime of experience

Work experience

• Small business owner

• Senior Policy Advisor, Field Policy and Management, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

• Executive Director, Transform Education New Mexico 

• Political Director, Ben Ray Lujan U.S. Senate Campaign 

• Chief Administrative Officer, The U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute

• Executive Leadership Fellow, Aspen Institute

• Bill Richardson Center for Global Engagement Fellow, Washington, DC 

Past Volunteerism

• Board member, YDI

• Board member, American Mexican Association

• Board member, New Mexico United 

• Board Member, Mentoring Kids Works, Santa Fe, NM

• Executive Board Member, New Mexico Voices for Children 

Honors and Awards

• Millennial Leadership Award, Hispano Roundtable of New Mexico 

• MANA Del Norte Rising Woman Award

• National Federation of Democratic Women, National Fellowship Award

• Rising Star Award, New Mexico Democratic Party 

• UNM Raza Excellence Outstanding Student Award