Andy Hernandez was appointed in February 2007. Prior to his appointment to The Wesley Center for Family and Neighborhood Development, Mr. Hernandez was a leadership scholar in residence at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Mr. Hernandez has also served as the founder and first Executive Director of the 21st Century Leadership Center at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and as the President of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project. He also served as a pastor of a United Methodist Church in Floresville, Texas.

Nationally, Mr. Hernandez has served as a leadership development and strategic planning consultant to a number of national organizations including the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute in Chicago, Illinois, The National Community of Latino Leaders Inc. in Washington D.C., The National Catholic Conference of Hispanic Ministries in Denver, Colorado, The National Latino’s Children’s Institute in San Antonio, Texas, The Wellstone Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota, and The Latino Academy in Los Angeles, California.

Mr. Hernandez is the co-author of the Almanac of Latino Politics 2002-2004, and more recently has been a contributing author for Emerging Voices, Urgent Choices: Essays on Latino/a Religions Leadership and The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas.

Brenda Figueroa joined the center in September 2007. Prior to her joining The Wesley Center for Family and Neighborhood Development, Ms. Figueroa was an Equal Employment Specialist/Counselor/Mediator for the USDA Forest Service National Civil Rights Staff in Washington, DC. Ms. Figueroa has also worked for a nationally recognized non-profit organization in the NeighborWorks America network, Alamo Area Mutual Housing Association in San Antonio, Texas, as a Resident Coordinator and IT Educator.

Ms. Figueroa is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas and a graduate of The University of Texas at San Antonio where she received her MBA in 2005. She also attended St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas where she received her Bachelors in Business Administration in 2001.

Brenda Jimenez joined the Wesley Center for Family and Neighborhood Development in February 2008. Prior to joining, Brenda Jimenez worked with Austin Partners in Education as the Adopt-A-School Coordinator. She graduated with a BA in Spanish Hispanic Studies and a BS in Communication Human Relations from the University of Texas at Austin. In the past, Brenda has volunteered as a Coach in South Austin Recreational Center for little league soccer and Basketball. Also formed part of the Partners in Literature program, helping high school kids with reading comprehension, as well as, Compañeros en Lectura working with 2nd graders.

Liliana Barrios joined The Wesley Center for Family and Neighborhood Development in October 2008. Prior to joining she had served as a Victory Tutorial Volunteer as well as a Cub Scout Mentor. Liliana is currently attending The University of Texas at Austin. She will complete her Undergraduate Thesis as well as graduate in May 2009. She is in the Plan II Honors Program and is also a Spanish major.