PNMGC Team
Avery Dixon
Project Assistant
Avery Dixon was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she developed a deep appreciation for her community and the opportunities available to students pursuing higher education. She is currently working toward her Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a concentration in accounting, a field that aligns with her passion for organization, problem-solving, and financial literacy.
Avery is thrilled to serve as a Program Assistant for the Project for New Mexico Graduates of Color (PNMGC), where she hopes to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for both undergraduate and graduate students. She understands the importance of mentorship, advocacy, and creating spaces where students feel empowered to ask questions and seek guidance. Through her role, she aspires to help students navigate their academic and professional journeys with confidence.
Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Avery enjoys a variety of creative and social activities. She has a love for acting, often participating in local theater productions or exploring different performance styles. She also enjoys baking, experimenting with new recipes, and sharing her creations with friends and family. In her free time, she can often be found playing video games and board games, enjoying the challenge and camaraderie they bring.
Avery is incredibly excited to be part of the PNMGC team and looks forward to contributing to its mission of equity, support, and empowerment. She is proud to be a Lobo and is eager to make a positive impact within her university community. Go Lobos!
Ferdinand Forku Kwarteng
Project Assistant
Ferdinand Forkuo Kwarteng is a dedicated professional with expertise in public finance, budgeting, and financial management. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in public finance at the University of New Mexico. Ferdinand brings valuable experience from roles as a Project Assistant at the Centre for Health Policy and the Office of Graduate Studies, a Teaching Assistant at Anderson School of Management, and an Accounts Officer at Ghana’s National Health Insurance Authority.
He holds a BSc in Administration (Accounting) from the University of Ghana and possesses strong skills in program management, financial analysis, and stakeholder engagement. Passionate about leadership and public service, Ferdinand aspires to work as a Certified Public Accountant for the federal government, contributing to finance, budgeting, and public administration.
Originally from Ghana, he moved to the U.S. in 2023 and values cultural exchange. His involvement with PNMGC has enriched his academic and professional growth, fostering mentorship, networking, and community engagement. He also serves on GPSA’s Legislative Steering Committee and is committed to leadership, policy analysis, and financial education. In his free time, he enjoys volunteering, soccer, tennis, ping pong, and hiking.
Diana Pinacho-Lopez
Project Assistant
Diana is a Master’s degree student in Chicana & Chicano Studies at UNM. Her research focuses on the migration and identity construction of Afro-Mexicans to the United States. She has worked as a journalist and digital marketing specialist. Has been part of various organizations in Mexico whose mission is to raise awareness of Black communities in Mexico. Was a part as a speaker at the "Teaching Symposium: Developing Afro-Latinx Infused Curriculum" at California State University, San Bernardino, and “Network of Afro-descendant Women, Spaces of Intersectionality and Struggle” at the Gender Equity Forum of the HeForShe group in October 2021 among others in Mexico, the United States and Latin America.
Rosario Zonaly Hernandez Rivera
Project Assistant
Zonaly is a master’s student in the Chicana and Chicano Studies Department at the University of New Mexico. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Her work focuses on the construction of Afro-descendant identity and the configuration of the Mexican nation-state. Her research in the Chicano Studies Department centers on the history and presence of Afro-Mexican people within the United States and the Chicana/o community.
She was part of the teaching staff at Cine en las Aldeas and Filma Afro in 2023. She previously worked at Consejo para Prevenir y Eliminar la Discriminación de la Ciudad de México (COPRED) in 2023 and has served as a Teaching Assistant at the FCPyS. She holds a Certificate in Afro-Latin American Studies from the Afro-Latin American Research Institute at Harvard University. She is a member of the Observatorio Coyuntural de Antropología (OCA) at ENAH. She has completed a course on Black and African feminisms from a decolonial perspective offered by MAD África and a specialization course in African American Studies from PUIC-UNAM. She participated in the Agenda del Movimiento Afromexicano conference organized by Fulbright Comexus and in the colloquium Coloquio Reflexiones a un año de la inclusión constitucional afromexicana at PUIC-UNAM.
