Texas Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez Confirmed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
On Monday, December 4, 2023, Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez was confirmed to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in an 80-12 vote.
Judge Ramirez previously served as a federal magistrate judge for the Northern District of Texas. Before that, she served as a federal prosecutor. Additionally, she is a member of the SMU Dedman School of Law Executive Board and is an esteemed Community Fellow and mentor to students.
Judge Ramirez is the first Latina to serve on the 5th Circuit. Born and raised in Terry County, Ramirez attended West Texas A&M University before getting her law degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1991. The 5th Circuit, based in New Orleans, covers Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
NAHJ Names Yaneth Guillen-Diaz as Executive Director
“Yaneth’s commitment to ensuring the organization’s success, coupled with her deep institutional knowledge and vision for executing NAHJ’s mission, make her a natural fit to lead the organization,” says NAHJ President Yvette Cabrera. “As we head into a milestone year, I can’t imagine a more thoughtful, passionate, capable leader to lead NAHJ.”
Prior to serving as COO, Guillen-Diaz was NAHJ’s senior director of training and membership, with responsibility for designing, planning and implementing training programs for professional members, many through industry partnerships. In that role, she oversaw more than 20 professional chapters across the country, as well as developing programs to expand the organization’s membership.
The NAHJ board of directors announced Yaneth Guillen-Diaz as the new executive director of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, taking the helm of the 3,600-member journalism nonprofit as it embarks on its milestone 40th anniversary year in 2024.
Guillen-Diaz, NAHJ’s chief operations officer and longest-serving staffer, has taken on roles of increasing responsibility during more than 20 years with NAHJ. As the board searched for a new executive director, Guillen-Diaz ensured the successful execution of the 2023 NAHJ annual conference, drove the implementation of NAHJ’s strategic plan, and launched a fundraising campaign for NAHJ’s 40th anniversary.
Prosperity Now Names Marisa Calderon President and CEO
As chief executive, Calderon will lead Prosperity Now at a crucial time as it marks its organizational milestone of a 45th anniversary.
Prosperity Now, the nation’s foremost institution advancing racial and ethnic economic equity, has named Marisa Calderon president and CEO. She will succeed Dr. Cherie Collins Sims, interim head since June of 2023, on January 2, 2024.
Calderon, an experienced executive who is regularly recognized, awarded, and cited nationwide for her expertise in the housing and financial services industries, most recently served as the executive director at the NCRC Community Development Fund (NCRC CDF) and as chief of community finance and mobility at the NCRC CDF’s parent company, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). Through Calderon’s leadership NCRC CDF was recognized by Fast Company on its 2022 list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for rapid, responsible deployment of millions of dollars of capital to underserved entrepreneurs. “Marisa was selected after an extensive nationwide search for a leader with the commitment, experience and passion needed to advance Prosperity Now’s mission,” said Victor Reinoso, board chair of Prosperity Now. “Over the course of her career, Marisa has repeatedly demonstrated her ability to lead the way in creating opportunities to build a just economy with opportunities for all.”