 Noah Apodaca is Think New Mexico’s Field Director. Noah grew up in Las Cruces and earned his BA from New Mexico State University where he majored in Journalism and Mass Communications and minored in Government. While at New Mexico State, Noah worked alongside the KRWG-TV News22 program as a reporter, anchor, and forecaster for three years, which earned him several accolades, including awards from the New Mexico Broadcasters Association and the Society of Professional Journalists. He also served as News Editor for The Round Up, NMSU’s only independent news source. Noah has previously worked as a congressional intern for Senator Martin Heinrich, a reporter/editorial intern at FOX14 in El Paso, Texas, and as a Digital Commercial Operations Intern at NBC Sports for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. |
 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 Health Policy 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. |
Ariel Cassell is a LANL and National Hispanic Institute scholarship recipient who is currently pursuing a B.S. in Political Science at Arizona State University. She was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she attended The MASTERS Program high school, taking dual credit courses at Santa Fe Community College in business administration and accounting, and interning at the state legislature with ENLACE NM. Ariel has volunteered with the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary and the Railyard Park Conservancy, served as a classroom assistant in the Santa Fe Public Schools, and completed qualitative research for Interfaith Community Shelters at Pete’s Place. While in college, Ariel has served as Chief of Staff for the College Dems at ASU West Chapter and a campaign manager for the undergraduate student government, as well as competing as a student athlete on the ASU STUNT team. Ariel is passionate about climate governance, human rights, and diplomacy. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in International Relations and Ecological Transitions & Governance after graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Spring 2026.
