Rosa Maria Hernandez is Executive Director of Friends of International Friendship Park, stepping into leadership of the historic U.S./Mexico border meeting site at a pivotal moment in its next chapter. She brings over 20 years of experience across the nonprofit, corporate, and community sectors, combining operational rigor with a lived, binational commitment to cross-border connection.

Before joining FOIFP, Rosa Maria served as Vice President of Programs, Development Executive, and Community Impact Expert, work that drove millions in revenue growth. She is pursuing her Master's at the University of San Diego and is a graduate of HOPE's Leadership Institute, LEAD San Diego, and USC's Multicultural Women in Negotiation and Leadership Program. She is also a graduate of MANA de San Diego's Latina Success Leadership Program, a founder of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. at SDSU, and holds certifications in AI implementation, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

Rosa Maria's roots include longstanding advocacy for Latina empowerment, Type 1 diabetes, and stronger policies supporting mothers and families. She lives in San Diego with her husband, Joe, and their children, Joey, Leilani Vida, and Maui Paz.