Allan Oliver is the President of the Thornburg Foundation. He oversees the Foundation’s Strategic Initiatives in K-12 education, good government reforms, food and agriculture, water, homelessness as well as Community Funding grants for social service organizations.

In addition to serving as Executive Director for 11 years, he has served on Governor Lujan Grisham’s Education Transition team and was named to the Governor’s statewide Census Complete Count Commission and co- chaired the Census Funders group. He has been recognized by Albuquerque Business First as a C-Suite Honoree for his accomplishments. In 2021, Allan was named to the Points of Light Inspiration Honor Roll for his efforts in New Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before joining the Thornburg Foundation, Allan served as Cabinet Secretary-Designate and Deputy Secretary for the New Mexico Economic Development Department and Director of Cabinet Affairs and Deputy Communications Director for Governor Bill Richardson. He also established the Partnership for Responsible Business and the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce, a business association with over 1100 members supporting renewable energy technology and responsible business practices. Mr. Oliver earned a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and was named a William Hodson Fellow for International Public Service. He recently completed an Executive Education program at Harvard Business School focused on Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management. He also served as an NGO specialist and initiated the municipal development program for the US Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala and served as country director for the National Democratic Institute in Kazakhstan.

He serves on the board of the Santa Fe School for Arts and Sciences, Groundworks New Mexico, and the National Funders Census Initiative. Allan enjoys spending time in New Mexico’s incredible outdoors and most of all enjoys spending time with his son, Max.

Contact: [email protected] 

Tim Bedeaux is a seasoned education policy analyst with nearly a decade of experience advancing evidence-based reforms in New Mexico. He previously served as a Senior Policy Analyst with the New Mexico Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC), where he led data-driven analyses on school finance, educator workforce development, and the expansion of artificial intelligence in schools. Tim brings expertise in qualitative and quantitative research, with a deep understanding of the state’s education system. His nonpartisan background informs a communication style focused on clarity and objectivity, translating complex data into actionable insights for policymakers. A native New Mexican, Tim graduated from East Mountain High School and the University of New Mexico, where he earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science and a Master of Public Policy. He recently completed the Innovation Science for Education Analytics fellowship at the University of Washington.

Contact: [email protected]

Elisa Montoya is the Pursuing Public Funds Initiative Policy Officer and General Counsel. Elisa brings more than 25 years of executive experience across the public and private sectors. Most recently, she served as the Community Development Director for the City of Santa Fe, where she co-led the effort to raise the city’s minimum wage to $17.50 per hour and secured project approvals for the development of affordable homes in Santa Fe. Before joining the city, she spent over seven years at Meow Wolf, playing a critical role in creating more than 1,000 jobs and helping launch four experiential entertainment businesses across multiple states.

Montoya has also served at the highest levels of government, advancing social justice policy, civic engagement, and public service. She served as professional staff to U.S. Senators Harry Reid (NV) and Ken Salazar (CO), and Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA). She also worked as a policy associate at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP in Washington, DC.

Elisa is a graduate of Stanford University, the University of Southern California Law Center, and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. She is also a graduate of St. Michael’s High School in Santa Fe, where her family has lived for generations.

Contact: [email protected]

Natalie Florence is the Housing Policy Officer at the Thornburg Foundation. Her work bridges public policy, philanthropy, and the built environment to support equitable community development across sectors. Prior to joining the Thornburg Foundation, she worked for Abt Global, where she researched, monitored, and evaluated efforts for federal, state, and foundation-funded housing initiatives and homelessness prevention. Natalie has extensive experience working alongside public housing authorities, state and local governments, nonprofit providers, and philanthropic partners to strengthen program design and align systems around homelessness prevention and long-term housing stability. She holds a PhD in Science and Technology Studies from Arizona State University, a Master of Architecture from Lawrence Technological University, and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Environmental Design from the University of Colorado.  Natalie enjoys supporting her three children and spending time outdoors as much as possible, traveling with her partner, and listening to music. 

Contact: natalie@thornburgfoundation.org

Lynn Trujillo is the Water Policy Officer at the Thornburg Foundation, bringing a rare combination of legal expertise and decades of experience across tribal, state, and federal levels of water policy. From 2022 to 2025, she served as Senior Counselor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, where she oversaw the Indian Water Rights Office. Prior to that role, she served as Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department under Governor Michelle Luján Grisham, facilitating collaboration among the Governor’s office, state agencies, and New Mexico’s 23 Indian tribes, nations, and pueblos. Before joining the Thornburg Foundation, Lynn supported the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer and Interstate Stream Commission in advancing water workforce development as part of the state’s 50-Year Water Action Plan. An enrolled member of Sandia Pueblo and part Acoma and Taos pueblos, Lynn holds a Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College.

Contact: [email protected]

Jolene Valdez is the Grants & Accounting Administrator at the Thornburg Foundation, where she oversees grant administration, financial operations, and nonprofit accounting processes in support of the Foundation’s strategic philanthropic initiatives. She earned her Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP) certification in 2025, enhancing her technical expertise in nonprofit financial management and compliance.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Valdez gained experience in financial operations and client service through roles in the banking sector and at Thornburg Investment Management. She is a first-generation college graduate and holds an Associate Degree in Business Fundamentals as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, completed in October 2022.

A fourth-generation New Mexican, Ms. Valdez is committed to advancing the Foundation’s mission through disciplined financial stewardship, operational excellence, and a detail-oriented approach to her work.

Contact: [email protected]