 Kristina G. Fisher is Think New Mexico’s Associate Director, Leadership Internship supervisor, and webmaster. A lifelong New Mexican, Kristina graduated first in her class from the University of New Mexico School of Law, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Natural Resources Journal. She is a recipient of the national Harry S Truman Fellowship for Leadership and Public Service and the Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Award for Excellence in Environmental Studies. In her free time, she helps lead the all-volunteer Albuquerque Wildlife Federation, where she organizes ecological restoration projects on lands across New Mexico and writes the group’s monthly newsletter, the Pine Cone. Kristina is active in land, water, and environmental justice issues across New Mexico. |
 Katie Gutierrez is Think New Mexico’s Tax, Budget, and Economic Development Reform Director. Katie is from San Antonito, New Mexico, where her family has been farming for 12 generations. A PhD candidate in Economics at the University of New Mexico, she studies the impact of taxes and policy changes on people’s health and wellbeing, with a focus on reducing health disparities. Katie is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar alumna, a UNM Center for Social Policy alumna, and a former organizer with the United Graduate workers of UNM. She most recently was a Visiting Professor of Economics at Williams College. |
 Lauren Leland is Think New Mexico’s Healthcare Reform Fellow. Lauren grew up in Albuquerque where she attended the Albuquerque Academy. She then earned her BA in Mathematics and Rhetoric from the University of California, Berkeley. While in college, she managed the Cal Karate Club and Berkeley Rhetoric Society. As an intern for the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, she used mathematics to help understand the legal impacts of equations and algorithms on environmental justice. She also acted as Field Director for State Senator Martin Hickey during his 2024 reelection campaign. Lauren is currently serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster youth in Albuquerque. |
 Susan L. Martin is Think New Mexico’s Business Manager. A graduate of the College of Santa Fe, Susan has extensive business management experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sector, from a 14-year stint at the Santa Fe Opera to her most recent position at the start-up Deep Web Technologies. In her free time, Susan volunteers with the International Folk Art Market and serves as the Majordomo of the Amy Hetegar Community Garden in Casa Solana. |
 Fred Nathan, Jr. founded Think New Mexico and is its Executive Director. Fred served as Special Counsel to New Mexico Attorney General Tom Udall from 1991-1998. In that capacity, he was the architect of several successful legislative initiatives and was in charge of New Mexico’s lawsuit against the tobacco industry, which resulted in a $1.25 billion settlement for the state. Fred serves on the boards of Santa Fe Preparatory School and the Thornburg Foundation, and is a former trustee of his alma mater, Williams College. |
 Mandi J. Torrez is Think New Mexico’s Education Reform Director. Mandi was the 2020 New Mexico Teacher of the Year. She has a decade of experience teaching third and fourth grade in the Bernalillo Public Schools, and she was recognized as that district’s 2019 Teacher of the Year. Mandi holds a BS in Journalism and an MS in Integrated Elementary and Special Education, and before becoming a teacher, she worked at the Farmington Daily Times as the News Editor and as Copy Editor. Prior to joining Think New Mexico, Mandi served as Teacher Liaison at the Public Education Department from 2020-2022. |
Jay Choate graduated from Organ Mountain High School and began their higher education studying Computer Science and Cyber Security at New Mexico Tech. Jay transferred to New Mexico State University and graduated with a BA in Political Science and a Minor in Public Administration in May 2024. At NMSU, they served as the Attorney General for the Associated Students of NMSU and as the Vice President for the Graduate Student Council. They also received the Joyce L. Smith Memorial Endowment and Jose N. & Joan T Uranga Law Endowed Scholarship. Jay is now pursuing a double major MA in Political Science and Public Administration at NMSU. Jay previously interned with the City of Las Cruces, canvassed for nonprofits including the New Mexico Dream Team, and campaigned for candidates ranging from City Council to the state legislature to Congress. They have also been involved in political party work, serving as President of NMSU College Democrats and working with people across the state to start the New Mexico Forward Party. After graduating, Jay intends to work as a policy advocate, doing research into effective solutions and advocating for them via nonprofit work and public office.
Ella Hutchinson grew up in Las Cruces, NM and graduated from Centennial High School where she served as a member of the Student Advisory Council to the LCPS School Board and a reporter for Centennial Student News. Ella then attended St. John’s College in Santa Fe where she earned a BA in Liberal Arts and received the Dean’s award for community service. While attending St. John’s she was the student representative of the Santa Fe campus for the College History Task Force, which was created to research St. John’s history with slavery. Ella will be taking a gap year before applying to law school, after which she plans to work on civil rights and constitutional issues in New Mexico.
Lynsey Pinto grew up in Ojo Amarillo, NM, a small community on the Navajo Nation. Lynsey earned a BS in Population Health and Political Science from the University of New Mexico. At UNM, Lynsey developed a passion for women’s health and reproductive justice. After graduating from UNM, Lynsey worked with the New Mexico Department of Health Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology program. At NMDOH, Lynsey developed an interest in connecting community to the policymaking process. Lynsey is currently in a Master of Science in Public Health in Health Policy program at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. After graduating from Johns Hopkins, Lynsey plans to return to New Mexico to work on Indigenous health policy.
