JOSE ANTONIO TIJERINO is president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, a national nonprofit focused on education, workforce, social impact, and culture through innovative leadership. Under Tijerino’s leadership, HHF is recognized as a creative, agile, impact-focused organization which has been honored by The White House, US Congress, Fortune 500 companies, other nonprofits, and even the Government of Mexico. Tijerino is also executive producer of the Hispanic Heritage Awards which are broadcast on PBS.

Prior to HHF, Tijerino was an executive at Fannie Mae Foundation, Nike, Burson Marsteller, and Cohn & Wolfe.

Tijerino was honored with the Ohtli Award which is the highest honor by government of Mexico outside of the country; Lifetime Achievement Award by National PTA; Hispanics in Philanthropy Giver Award; Vision Award by Silicon Valley Latino Leadership; MALDEF Human Rights Award; Telemundo’s Community Service; Civilian Impact Award by US Army; Brillante Award by National Society of Hispanic MBAs; Digital Hero Award by MMTC; among others.

Tijerino has served on various boards and committees inlcuding Harvard’s Latino Leadership Initiative at Harvard’s Kennedy School, University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business, University System of Maryland Foundation, Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership (HHTP), National Girls Collaborative, Games for Change, CSforAll, KID Museum, Notre Dame’s Exoneration Justice Clinic, and Nielsen’s Latino Advisory Counsel, as a commissioner for America 250, and the FCC’s Communications Equity and Diversity Council (CEDC).

As a proud immigrant from Nicaragua, Tijerino help found the Hispanic Leaders Alliance with the NFL, the American Project, #WeDreamAmerica campaign, #Masks4Farmworkers which provided more than 2 million masks for farmworkers during the pandemic, READ (Refugee Education And Development), DREAM LEAD Institute for DACA recipients, and helped produce the Oyeme! Project with Imagination Stage portraying the plight of unaccompanied minors.

He was recognized by FWD.US for his work with migrant families on the border, and is a Salinas Fellow at the Aspen Institute. Tijerino also co-founded the LOFT (Latinos On Fast Track) Institute for hundreds of Latinx youth in partnership with Trinity University.

Tijerino is recognized as an Influencer on LinkedIn and was selected as “Top 10 Voices on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” on the platform. His blogs and media presence have made him a national voice on various issues including diversity, immigration, creativity and youth empowerment. He earned a BS degree from the University of Maryland’s school of journalism, and was honored with a Doctorate of Humane Letters from The Chicago School. Tijerino lives in Washington, DC.