Our Leadership Team
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Founder
Cristina (she/her) founded Latinxs in Sustainability in 2017 to help address the lack of Latinx representation in the sustainability and environmental fields. She is a native New Yorker and holds a master's degree from the City College of New York in Environmental Engineering. Cristina believes it is critical to be intentional about programs and policies that will create high quality jobs that are accessible to all, especially historically marginalized and underrepresented groups.
Cristina currently works at Con Edison, where she manages programs offered to New Yorkers to help decarbonize and weatherize their homes. Prior to that she worked at BEI, helping city governments develop inclusive labor and workforce strategies that will enable an equitable transition away from fossil fuels. Prior to that, she developed building electrification strategies and workforce initiatives at the New York Mayor's Office of Sustainability, including spearheading the Retrofit Accelerator Internship Program, which trains and connects CUNY students to paid internships. In 2023 she organized another CUNY focused workforce initiative, CCNY Sustainability Level-Up. Cristina also served time on the board of the NYC Chapter of Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) where she showcased sustainability opportunities in a construction dominated professional development organization. She was recently honored as one of New York’s 40 under 40 by Negocios Now.
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Director of Communications
Isabella (she/her) joined Latinxs in Sustainability in 2025 to help amplify Latinx voices in the climate space and expand access to educational and professional opportunities for those driving environmental change. She brings a strategic communications lens to uplifting members’ work and fostering meaningful connections across the network. She is deeply committed to using storytelling and digital media to advance climate action, equity, and visibility for Latinx communities in the environmental movement.With a background in nonprofit communications and grassroots advocacy, her work centers on amplifying community-led climate solutions through clear, creative, and inclusive messaging.
She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Sustainability Studies and International Studies from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Climate and Society from Columbia University’s Climate School. She believes that education and storytelling are powerful tools to inspire climate action and drive lasting change.
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Co-Managing Director
Jesse Aman (she/her) is a New York–based state and local government affairs leader with more than a decade of experience shaping legislation and advancing major infrastructure and clean energy initiatives. She has operated at the center of New York’s political and regulatory landscape, advising senior executives and working closely with elected officials, agencies, labor, and community stakeholders to move complex projects forward.
Most recently, Jesse served as New York State government affairs lead for a global independent power producer, helping guide large-scale clean energy projects through evolving policy frameworks. Her work is grounded in a deep understanding of New York’s political ecosystem and a belief that sustainability must deliver affordability, job creation, and durable economic resilience.
Jesse has held national leadership roles with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Alumni Association and is a U.S. Department of State Congress-Bundestag Fellow alumnus. She currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board at Baruch College’s Marxe School of Public & International Affairs, where she earned her B.S. in Public Affairs.
As Co-Managing Director of Latinxs in Sustainability, Jesse is committed to strengthening the organization’s national presence and advancing the next generation of Latinx leaders shaping climate, energy, and environmental policy.
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Director of Programs
Abe (He/Him/Él) joined Latinxs in Sustainability in 2021 after earning an MBA and an MS in Sustainability from the University of Michigan. Prior to graduate school, he began his career designing power lines as a transmission engineer after graduating from the University of California, Irvine with a BS in Civil Engineering. His professional journey spans engineering consulting, corporate innovation, venture capital, and startup ecosystems. Dedicated to creating sustainable and equitable communities, Abe supports early-stage startups and small businesses with finance, strategy, and operations expertise. He believes empowering these entrepreneurs is crucial for developing the innovative solutions needed to build thriving communities. As LiS Director of Programs, Abe will lead the overall strategy and execution of existing programs, including the Inclusive Mentorship Program, and drive new program development and implementation.
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Director of Partnerships
Melina Acevedo (she/her) joined Latinxs in Sustainability in 2022, and is leading on partnerships and fundraising efforts. Driven by her own experiences, Melina is passionate about removing the barriers to entry for environmental jobs, particularly for students and young professionals from historically marginalized communities. Melina is currently a Project Development Manager at DESRI, where she manages the development of utility-scale solar and storage projects across the US. Previously, Melina was a Senior Sales Analyst at Nextracker, where she managed the contracting of utility-scale solar projects across North America. Prior to LiS, Melina served as a Board Member of Young Professionals in Energy (YPE) SF Bay Area, where she created and led YPE's Scholarship Program and Clean Energy Career Expo for students seeking clean energy careers. She holds a Bachelors in Chemistry and a Minor in Materials Science and Engineering from Princeton University. Melina has been recently recognized as a Trailblazer in Clean Energy by City & State NYC, and 30 under 30 Awardee by NextGen Collective.
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Director of Membership Engagement
Litzy joined the Latinxs in Sustainability in December 2023 to help expand access to training and career opportunities for emerging talent in the sustainability space—addressing workforce gaps critical to combating climate change. As Director of Membership Engagement, she hopes to strengthen member connections, support programming, and build a dynamic, supportive network that reflects the voices and leadership across the Latinx sustainability community. Since 2022, she has worked with EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) team, bringing with her a strong foundation in environmental and social impact gained through her studies at Tufts University and hands-on experience in the clean energy sector via the MassCEC Clean Energy Internship Program. These experiences shaped her understanding of how businesses, governments, and nonprofits can collectively drive meaningful change and create inclusive economic opportunity. Litzy offers expertise in operations, risk, and compliance, particularly within ESG and decarbonization initiatives. She integrates sustainability into core business strategies, streamlines processes, and navigates regulatory complexities to deliver measurable impact.
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Co-Managing Director
Isabel (Isa) Molina (she/her) joined Latinx in Sustainability in late 2025 with the goal of supporting the work of the organization by creating sustainable internal operations. Isa deeply believes that successful organizations start by supporting and empowering the people who make the organization great. Currently working as the Clean Energy and Environmental Equity Manager at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Isa brings expertise in sustainable, equitable and inclusive management and processes, supporting a small but mighty team in essential programs that serve low-income and underserved communities. She brings over a decade of knowledge from the environmental field, with past work including environmental & environmental justice policy, waste management systems, environmental education and outreach, and sustainable agriculture.
Our Volunteer Team
Former Leaders
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Director of Chapter Engagement
Sebastian joined LiS in 2022, where he founded and led the San Diego Chapter of LiS. Now, he leads our chapter-wide engagement between NYC, Chicago, and San Diego by bringing each chapter's strengths for a more unified engagement approach. Currently, Sebastian is a Senior Regulatory Analyst at the California Public Utilities Commission working on building decarbonization and transforming the heat pump market in California. Prior to that, he was the Policy Manager and a founding staff member of San Diego Community Power (SDCP), a community choice aggregator dedicated to providing more renewable energy at better prices to customers in the San Diego region. He also spent time at the City of San Diego’s Sustainability Department and led the grassroot effort at Climate Action Campaign to push for the creation of SDCP. He holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Central Florida. He is a recipient of San Diego Business Journal's Top 40 Leaders Under 40 Award in 2021 and was a National Fellow that same year with the Clean Energy Leadership Institute. In his free time, Sebastian enjoys being active: whether that's playing beach volleyball, doing improv comedy, or going for a run.
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Director of Finance and Operations
Carolina (she/her) has been a part of Latinxs in Sustainability since 2021. She is passionate about expanding access to energy programs and ensuring that all communities have the opportunity to help shape a more resilient and affordable energy system. Carolina began her career as an AmeriCorps VISTA member and later worked in local government in Jersey City, where she focused on sustainability and energy initiatives. She holds a degree from Rutgers University and believes that people directly impacted by environmental and energy challenges should have a voice in developing practical, lasting solutions.
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Director of Marketing
Daniella (she/her) joined Latinxs in Sustainability in 2023. She is a firm believer in the power of community to drive both career development and climate action. Through her role on the board, Daniella strives to convey how coming together can help guide our professional journeys, foster a deeper sense of belonging, and offer a space to celebrate our cultures. Daniella is passionate about improving the built environment by making spaces accessible and healthy for all people. With several years of experience in the consulting space—including roles at Steven Winter Associates, Ross Energy Consulting, and PLASTARC—she has led sustainability and social impact initiatives within the building industry. Her work has focused on large-scale research, writing, data collection and analysis, and the development of comprehensive ESG programs. Daniella holds a BA degree in Urban Studies with a concentration in Environmental Science and Sustainability, as well as a minor in Political Science from Barnard College of Columbia University.