Jose Antonio Tijerino is president and chief executive officer of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), a national nonprofit focused on education, workforce, social impact, and culture, through the lens of leadership, which he describes as a “malleable mission.” Under Tijerino, HHF has been honored by The White House, US Congress, Fortune 500 companies, other nonprofits, and the Government of Mexico. Tijerino is also executive producer of the Hispanic Heritage Awards at the Kennedy Center, which are broadcast on PBS. Previously, Tijerino was an executive at Fannie Mae Foundation, Nike, Burson Marsteller, and Cohn & Wolfe.
Tijerino was recognized by FWD.us for his work with migrant families on the border, including his support of the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, TX, and has helped build a center on the Mexico side. He also co-founded the American Project; #WeDreamAmerica campaign; and #Masks4Farmworkers, which provided more than 2 million masks for farmworkers during the pandemic; DREAM LEAD for DACA recipients. And, he supported Imagination Stage’s Theatre for Change featuring the Oyeme! Project portraying the plight of migrants, among other efforts.
Tijerino earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland’s School of Journalism, was honored with a Doctorate of Humane Letters from The Chicago School, and is a Salinas Fellow at the Aspen Institute.
