Who We Are

Staff

Leadership

Gabrielle Uballez (she/her)
Executive Director

Gabrielle joined NM Voices as Executive Director in 2024. She is a seasoned social sector leader with over a decade of experience in organizational leadership, partnership development, program design, and racial equity. She served as a program officer at Asset Funders Network, advancing national and regional initiatives in racial and economic justice in philanthropy. Previously, she was co-director of the U.S. Department of Arts & Culture, executive director of Working Classroom, and chairperson of the city of Albuquerque’s Urban Enhancement Trust Fund. Gabrielle advises national and local foundations on racial equity, youth development, economic justice, and arts and activism. She currently serves on the boards of the national ACLU and the ACLU of New Mexico. Gabrielle holds a BA from Pomona College and a certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from Stanford School of Business. Born and raised in New Mexico, she resides in Albuquerque with her husband, three Chinese-Chicanx children, and many plants and pets.

Policy Team

Jacob Vigil, MSW (he/him)
Chief Legislative Officer

Jacob joined NM Voices in 2018 to focus on anti-poverty initiatives, including economic security, safety net, and early care and education policies, which he’s done through research and statewide outreach and advocacy. He was promoted to Deputy Policy Director in 2023, and to Chief Legislative Officer in 2025. Prior to joining NM Voices, Jacob worked in advocacy and coalition building in Illinois and California on early childhood and children’s health issues. He also worked as a government relations representative advocating for quality subsidized child care in several Western states. Before entering public policy, Jacob was a social worker and educator. Jacob holds a BA in Latin American History from Pomona College in Claremont, CA, and a Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago.

Emily Wildau, MPP (she/her)
Director of Policy

Emily joined NM Voices in 2020, becoming Senior Research and Policy Analyst in 2023, and Director of Policy in 2025. She coordinates the KIDS COUNT program by monitoring and providing education on child well-being data and focuses on policy issues related to early childhood, K-12 and higher education, and food security. She was born in Roswell and completed her BA in English Rhetoric at NMSU. During her time there, Emily discovered her passion for social justice in a volunteer role advocating and fundraising for programs to support an end to child soldiering in Central and East Africa. Since relocating to Albuquerque in 2015, Emily has contributed to her community throughout her career, previously working at Roadrunner Food Bank and Central New Mexico Community College. She earned her Master’s in Public Policy at UNM.

Jonathan Salazar, M.Ed. (he/him)
Senior Research & Policy Analyst

Jonathan joined NM Voices in 2024, focusing on criminal justice, workforce development and immigration policy. As a strategist, community organizer, researcher, and advocate, Jonathan is passionate about youth advocacy, organizational strategy, creating systems change, and advancing racial and gender justice. Before joining NM Voices, Jonathan partnered with nonprofits, philanthropies, and corporations to develop DEI strategies and transform organizational cultures. He also led a statewide New York campaign to support children affected by parental arrest. Growing up in Albuquerque, he has worked on local issues in New Mexico including youth civic engagement, immigration, public benefits, and transit, racial and gender equity. Jonathan received a BA from Yale University and a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Mónica Rae Otero, LMSW (she/her)
Research & Policy Analyst

Mónica joined NM Voices in 2024, focusing on health research and policy analysis. Mónica was born and raised in Albuquerque where she earned her BS in Psychology at UNM. In 2023 she received her Master of Social Work and Public Health Graduate Certificate from NMSU. Prior to joining NM Voices, she advanced her research and outreach skills at the NMHU Center for Excellence in Social Work. As a public health social worker, researcher, and advocate, working through an anti-racist/anti-oppressive lens, Mónica is passionate about health equity, social justice, and the well-being of New Mexico communities. Deeply connected to her roots, Mónica is committed to uplifting the unique culture and diverse communities of New Mexico. She is driven by her love for the land and its people and strives to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of future generations across the state.

Maya Anthony (she/her)
Research & Policy Analyst

Maya joined NM Voices for Children in 2025 to focus on climate and the interconnected web related to indicators of child & family well-being. She was born and raised in Taos in a rural upbringing, which inspired a sense of connection to nature that drives her passion for making access to nature and a liveable climate a basic human right. Her career started in outdoor education, where she mentored young people through a wide array of outdoor adventures. Maya attended the University of New Mexico, where she received her BA in Environmental Planning & Design. After graduating, she spent time working for a children’s program in Granada, Nicaragua, before returning back to her hometown of Taos in 2017. During that time she worked as the Public Programs Coordinator with Taos Land Trust, where she focused on the connection between access to nature and community health. This led her to pursue a Certificate in Community Health Work from UNM-Taos in 2022. She went on to work for the Taos Land Trust as their Stewardship Director, where she focused on land conservation through the development of conservation easement initiatives. She also served as a facilitator for the Rio Fernando de Taos Revitalization Collaborative, a watershed-based community collaboration.

Mark Hume, MPP (he/him)
Research & Policy Analyst

Mark Hume joined New Mexico Voices for Children as an Early Childhood and K-12 Education Analyst in 2025. Prior to joining the Voices team, Mark worked as a Policy Analyst for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Native American Early Education at the New Mexico Early Education & Care Department (ECECD). During his tenure at the ECECD, Mark focused on developing the nascent agency’s tribal collaboration and communication protocol, as well as coordinating and facilitating the New Mexico Early Childhood Tribal Advisory Coalition, a nation-leading model of state tribal collaboration in the early childhood education ecosystem. Mark was born in Santa Fe, and spent his early years living in small communities in Northern New Mexico before his family settled in Albuquerque, where he has lived most his life. His family has strong ties to New Mexico from time immemorial, which drives his motivation to work on policy issues that face children and families across the entire state. Mark holds a BA in History & Political Science and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of New Mexico.

Kufre McIver (he/they)
Policy Fellow

Kufre joined NM Voices for Children in 2024. Growing up in Albuquerque, Kufre developed an interest in understanding and addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality. He studied economics at the University of New Mexico and has previously worked at the Supportive Housing Coalition in Albuquerque as well as The Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C. While there he studied inequality policy, doing data analysis for the Executive Excess Report, as well as budget and military spending policy research with the National Priorities Project, helping them produce their annual tax receipt.

Communications Team

Alex McCausland (he/him)
Communications Manager

Alex joined NM Voices in 2021 as the Graphics and Social Media Manager, and was promoted to Communications Manager in 2025. Alex works with the Chief Communications Officer to execute NM Voices’ communications campaigns and strategies, and he directly oversees all digital communications. Alex was born and raised in California and moved to Albuquerque in 2019 to complete his BA in English and Journalism at the University of New Mexico. Previously he served as the editor in chief of the Daily Lobo, UNM’s independent student newspaper, and as a freelance photographer at the Deli LA, a Los Angeles-based music magazine.

Development and Operations Team

Layla Archuletta-Maestas, MPA (she/her)
Chief Administrative Officer

Layla was born and raised in Northern New Mexico and has dedicated her career to serving her community. She specializes in operational effectiveness within organizations and focuses on identifying and implementing human-centered design principles. Before joining NM Voices, Layla served as the Deputy City Manager for the City of Santa Fe. In this role, she led creative initiatives to empower the voices of City staff and cultivate a collaborative workplace culture. She also brings experience in nonprofit management and previously worked with U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich. Layla holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of New Mexico. She lives in the North Valley with her husband and daughter.

Christopher Cox (he/him)
Grants and Development Manager

Chris joined New Mexico Voices in 2025 to help manage its foundation grants program and development office functions after relocating to New Mexico from the San Francisco Bay Area, where he served the nonprofit community in a variety of capacities for more than twenty years. Before joining New Mexico Voices, Chris worked as a consultant for Colorado’s Center for Developmental Disabilities. Prior to that he served as Director of Development and Alum Relations at the Graduate Theological Union, an interreligious graduate school in Berkeley, CA, managing foundation grants, annual giving, database operations and alumni events. He enjoys working with donors, executive leadership, program staff, and other key stakeholders to ensure the effective management of revenue producing activities from foundations, organizations and individuals. Chris received a BA in Anthropology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and is excited to be living in New Mexico and working for its diverse and resilient communities.

Brian Urban (he/him)
Operations Manager

Brian wears a number of hats at NM Voices – from managing the office to overseeing the donor database, helping coordinate and run our events, with a little graphic design thrown in. Brian first came to NM Voices as part of our Youth Link program, which trained middle- and high-school youths in the art of advocacy using tobacco prevention as a tangible issue. His bachelor’s degree is from the University of New Mexico.

Barbara Mike (she/her)
Executive Support Coordinator

Barbara joined NM Voices in 2017 after living in Kansas for many years. While in Kansas she was an administrative clerk for Westar Energy, assistant to the treasurer of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and was a physical science technician and a natural resources administrative assistant for the Environmental Science program at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, which is also where Barbara earned her bachelor’s degree.