LULAC National Board Appoints Sindy Benavides as New Chief Operating Officer
Washington, D.C. – On Friday, February 16th, the LULAC National Board unanimously voted to appoint Sindy Benavides as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of LULAC, effective immediately. She will also lead and conduct the day-to-day operations of the LULAC Institute and LULAC National Office while the search for a new Chief Executive Officer is finalized.
Benavides has been with the organization for over 5 years and has served as LULAC’s Interim COO since September 30, 2017. She previously served as the National Director for Civic Engagement and Community Mobilization for LULAC.
Prior to joining LULAC, Benavides was the Vice President of Field & Political Operations for Voto Latino and Northern Virginia Political Director for the 2012 Kaine for Virginia senatorial campaign. She also served as National Director of Community Outreach for the Democratic National Committee, and Latino Liaison and Director of Gubernatorial Appointments for Governor Timothy M. Kaine.
“Sindy has been a part of the LULAC leadership team for many years, where she’s played an integral role in executing our civic engagement and immigration programs, worked with our membership nationwide to execute major program and policy campaigns, developed partnerships, and driven efficiency,” said David Hernandez, Chair of the Personnel Committee and National Vice President for the Farwest. “With a proven track record of turning strategies into executed realities, she has the knowledge, professional acumen, and leadership experience to lead LULAC’s national operations. The board is proud to appoint her as COO and is confident she will move our mission forward.”
“I am grateful for the trust that the LULAC National Board has placed in me, especially as we seek to address our organizational growth and transition,” said Benavides. “I have a profound commitment to public service and share LULAC’s dedication to making a positive impact on Latino communities across the nation. As I work with our leadership and membership to rebuild and strengthen our National Office, it is clear that LULAC’s legacy and long-held values of fighting for our community, policy advances and legal change is intact. We are ready to redouble our efforts as the only national Latino grassroots membership organization in the country to ensure our voices and our agenda are represented at the local, state, and federal level now and in the future.”
Benavides is an alumna of the Sorenson Political Leadership Program through the University of Virginia and the Virginia Executive Institute and Minority Political Leadership Institute through Virginia Commonwealth University. She is an alumna of the 2009 class of the National Hispana Leadership Institute. She obtained her Certificate on Executive Management and Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School in April 2009 and attended the Center for Creative Leadership in July 2009.
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The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.lulac.org.