STAFF & BOARD
Ángel Peña | Executive Director
Ángel Peña was born and raised in the Río Bravo valley, he is a first generation Mexican, American and father of three. Àngel has had the opportunity to support and lead strong effective teams that ultimately secured protections totaling millions of acres across the American Southwest. A founding member of the Next 100 Coalition, and Now the Executive Director of the Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project he is in the business of people empowerment. Working to empower the people that have true, authentic and deep-rooted ties to the land.
Olivia Bettinger | Operations Director
Olivia Bettinger, Operations Director at Nuestra Tierra, is committed to building systems that enhance the organization's workplace environment. With a B.A. in sociology and dance from Reed College, Olivia applies her systemic understanding and creative thinking to manage finances, support staff, and facilitate growth. Her passion for public lands and waters traces back to childhood canoe trips on Northeast Oklahoma's muddy, post-Dust Bowl lakes, which underscored the intrinsic value of landscapes to their local communities. Olivia's dedication to outdoor education was further shaped by her experiences as a Girl Scout camp counselor and lifeguard, where she witnessed the transformative impact of nature on youth. Living in Las Cruces with her wife, pets, and a love for dancing and community building, she strives to make outdoor experiences accessible to all children.
Adrian Angulo | Campaigns & Program Director
Adrian Angulo, a first-generation American citizen from Sonora, Mexico, where he grew up fishing for cochito, pargo, and roncachito, has cultivated a strong civic responsibility and actively encourages community political engagement. After earning his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s College in Santa Fe, Angulo launched his career at the New Mexico State Legislature. Here, he collaborated with elected officials across the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Senate Finance Committee to safeguard the environment. Expanding his role in community leadership, he moved into political campaigns, focusing on fundraising, event management, Hispanic and Latino outreach, public relations, and mobilizing volunteers, including diverse local and tribal communities, to support progressive causes. When not working, Angulo enjoys woodworking, biking, and hiking with his dog.
Danielle Malloy
Growing up, Danielle's grandfather drove her to school every morning, often tuning in to the local AM "talk radio" station discussing economic and political issues on the southside of Chicago. These car rides sparked Danielle's interest in addressing community inequities, leading her to join her high school's policy debate team to engage in meaningful dialogues on public policies.
Danielle earned her bachelor’s degree from Bradley University in Peoria, IL, majoring in political science with minors in economics, women and gender studies, and international relations. Her education deepened her understanding of injustices, fueling her advocacy for excluded communities. Interning for multiple Illinois State Representatives, she championed women's rights, increased wages, and social programs for historically discriminated groups.
Now, in the nonprofit development field, Danielle supports excluded communities. Despite her urban upbringing, she developed a love for biking, skating, and the outdoors from trips to beaches, parks, and trails with her grandfather.
PRESIDENT
Ray Trejo
Ray Trejo is a lifelong educator, sportsman, and conservationist from Deming, NM. As the former assistant superintendent at Deming Public Schools, Ray has dedicated a big portion of his life to serving K-12 youth and has mentored countless Hispanic youth in the outdoors. Aside from his dedicated work with Nuestra Tierra, Ray also serves as an outreach coordinator for New Mexico Wildlife Federation and as the Deming Refugee Shelter Director. Ray attended Western New Mexico University in Silver City where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in education, a master’s degree in teaching and a second master’s in educational leadership.
SECRETARY
Charlene Juanico
Charlene Juanico was born in Albuquerque, raised in Rio Rancho and is from Zia, Jemez, and Acoma Pueblo. She graduated from NMSU with degrees in Fish and Wildlife Conservation Ecology and Administration and Public Policy. Her passion for land advocacy was ignited when the North Dakota Pipeline was built and she made a commitment to doing her part to prevent more natural resource destruction on Indigenous lands. She is the Assistant Tribal Relations Liaison for US Forest Service at Cibola & Sante Fe National Forests. She is also member of the Pueblo Action Alliance in Albuquerque. In her free time Charlene enjoys hiking and camping.
MEMBER
Krystyna Gonzalez
Krystyna Gonzalez grew up in San Miguel, NM and now live in Las Cruces. She is a professional mental health therapist and passionately believes that connecting to nature is a form of therapy. Alongside her work as Nuestra Tierra board member, she is also an ambassador for Women Who Explores, where she helps other women connect to the the outdoors. Her commitment to community and helping others get outdoors is what draws her to Nuestra Tierra’s work. She loves backpacking, photography, and coffee.
ADVISOR TO THE BOARD
José G. González
José G. González is the Founder of Latino Outdoors. He is an experienced K-12 educator, environmental education advisor, outdoor education instructor and coordinator, and university adjunct faculty. He is also an illustrator and science communicator. He has engaged in collaborations with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of Interior, and the National Park Service during the Obama Administration. He also represented Latino Outdoors in several coalitions including the Latino Conservation Alliance, the Next 100 Coalition, and California Parks Now.