Officers
Angela McRae
Angela has been a member of the MHA since its inception and has been fundamental in the branding of MHA. In previous years, Angela has been responsible for MHA’s Public Relations and has worked as the Arts & Crafts Director for various events and past Festivals Latino. Angela is also the Event Director for the “Run To The Latin Beat” 5K. Angela was born in Colombia and has been living in Mississippi since the age of eight. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 2000 with a B.S. in Fine Arts emphasis in Graphic Design. Currently, Angela is the Creative Marketing Consultant at Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company.
Renata Gil
Renata is from Brazil and graduated in Computer Science and Business with an MBA in Marketing. Back in Brazil, she worked with computer programming and plastic recycling. She has taught English as a Second Language for six years and has worked with Adult Education since 2003. She has enjoyed the challenge of teaching. She joined Hinds Community College in 2019 and started teaching virtual day and evening classes in 2020. Since 2004, she has worked for the American Heart Association as an Assistant Managing Editor with the Hypertension Scientific Journal. She loves Salsa and Zumba dancing and going to Pilates.
Lizbeth Jimena Velásquez
Jimena is currently the director of the MHA Family Reading Program and assistant director of the Paco Rosales Scholarship. Jimena was born in Colombia and has been living in Mississippi since the age of five. She attended Byram Attendance Center for all 12 years of primary and secondary education. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 2000 with a B.S. in Biology, with an emphasis on Pre-Medicine, and a B.A. in Anthropology, with an emphasis in Archaeology. Jimena was an archaeologist for 20 years, 18 of which she worked for the Mississippi Department of Transportation. She graduated cum laude in May of 2023 from Mississippi College School of Law. Jimena was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in September of 2023 and now works as an attorney with Danks Miller & Cory in Jackson, MS. She practices civil and criminal litigation, as well as immigration law. Jimena is also a board member of El Pueblo and Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, both non-profit organizations whose mission is to advocate, educate, and organize the immigrant community.
