FIS Welcomes Azucena Hernandez as Executive Vice President
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
We are delighted and honored to welcome Azucena “Susy” Hernandez as our new Executive Vice President (EVP) at Families In Schools (FIS). Susy joins us with a wealth of experience in education and nonprofit leadership and a deep commitment to supporting the families and communities we serve.
In this role, Susy will oversee the day-to-day operations of FIS, ensuring that our programs empower students and their families to achieve educational success. Susy will work closely with FIS President & CEO to advance our mission, provide strategic leadership, and drive our organizational growth. As EVP, Susy will also play an essential role in fostering team collaboration, maintaining a culture of innovation, and scaling our impact to meet the evolving needs of Los Angeles’ families.
“Susy is one of L.A.’s most inspiring and impact-driven leaders with a management style rooted in her lived experience and a profound commitment to leading with care and empathy,” said Yolie Flores, President and CEO of Families In Schools. “She is the ideal partner to help me lead FIS as we carry out our ambitious strategic plan and build new networks of mission-aligned partners that will embrace and support students and families in a political environment that is threatening the safety and well-being of many.”
“As an undocumented student who attended Los Angeles public schools, a graduate of the community college and UC systems, and the previous co-director of Promesa Boyle Heights, I know the importance of education as a powerful lever of opportunity,” said Azucena Hernandez. “As a mother of a three-year-old, I also know the power of parent engagement and family-school partnerships. It is not lost on me that, in 2030, my daughter will be in third grade—the time when reading on grade level predicts school success. Educational success is what I want for her and all our children and why I am so proud to join Families In Schools.”
“We are confident that, under Susy’s leadership, we will continue to strengthen our commitment to education, high-impact family and community engagement, and systemic change for students and families in Los Angeles and across California,” said Tommy Chang, chair of the FIS Board of Directors. “We are delighted she has chosen Families In Schools as her new leadership home.”
Please join us in welcoming Susy to the Families In Schools team!
Azucena Hernandez
Azucena Hernandez, also known as Susy, is a strategic leader with over a decade of experience advancing organizational impact and systemic transformation. Born in Mexico City and raised in Los Angeles, Azucena is a proud first-generation LAUSD, community college, and UC Santa Barbara alumna. She draws from her personal experiences navigating public education and immigration systems to advocate for equitable opportunities for students and families.
Her career began with advocacy for youth at the community college level, evolving into a lifelong mission to ensure every child can thrive regardless of language, birthplace, or zip code. A recognized public speaker and panelist, Azucena has shared her expertise at regional and national forums, including the National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference, HOPE’s Latina History Day® Conference, and Cal State LA’s Leadership Forum. She’s engaged diverse audiences on topics ranging from youth mental health to authentic community engagement and education equity.
Azucena’s career spans transformative work in education, public health, environmental justice, and community development. Most recently, in Boyle Heights, she led system-level advocacy and program strategy across multiple issue areas through a collective impact approach. Her leadership fostered innovative community-school partnerships, advancing equity and opportunity for students with the highest needs. Azucena also founded a consulting practice focused on education and leadership, helping organizations achieve systemic change through community care, wellness, and transformational coaching.
In her free time, Azucena enjoys reading, supporting local vendors, and spending quality time outdoors with her daughter.