Jordan Banegas serves as Assistant Director of Activism at The Institute for Justice, where he organizes people to improve their communities by sharing their stories and realizing their full potential.
Banegas was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico along the U.S.-Mexico border. He stayed in the area to pursue his bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the State’s Land Grant University—New Mexico State. Here, Jordan was appointed by the New Mexico Governor to serve on the institution’s governing board of regents. Serving a two-year term, he guided NMSU to increase its entrance requirements, installed a former Governor as Chancellor, and implemented strategic policies to ensure the institution’s future fiscal health was secure, including the partnership to develop the area’s first medical school. Leading one of the nation’s largest Hispanic-serving universities gave Banegas unique experience and insights into our education system and workforce development for the country’s fastest growing community.
Helping a fellow Las Crucen carry her voice to the state capitol, Banegas served as Regional Political Director for Susana Martinez on both of her historic runs for Governor. With her resounding victory in 2010, Martinez shattered a glass ceiling by becoming America’s first Latina Governor ever elected. Following the success on the campaign trail, Jordan led efforts in the region to break down economic barriers for the most vulnerable through the founding of a non-profit and organizing coalitions to combat harmful and overreaching policies.
Migrating from the Borderland, Jordan and his wife Julia, relocated to the Washington, D.C. area in 2016 where he continued to break down barriers for the Hispanic community by leading digital efforts for the LIBRE Initiative in the larger Stand Together Network. Here, Banegas organized voices across the country to empower communities to fight for a level playing field in education, protect free speech, defend the right to earn a living, demand a fair criminal justice system, and stand with immigrants in their pursuit of the American Dream.
While he’s organizing, Jordan also enjoys practicing photography, lifting weights/personal training, trying restaurants with Julia, watching sports, studying theology, training dogs, sharpening his Spanish, crafting cocktails, and trying to be a lifelong learner.