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.