Albuquerque Involved Board Members

We created Albuquerque Involved to incorporate community service and charitable giving into our lives in a meaningful way. We are busy professionals who want to support local organizations through the convenience of monthly online giving and hands-on service projects that are designed for the whole the family.

Our board has experience in:

• National nonprofit fundraising

• Local campaign fundraising,

• Large-scale event planning.

• Social Activism

• Student service organization formation,

• and Volunteerism with a wide variety of agencies.

Jenna Hagengruber

Jenna was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has received both her BA and MA from UNM, where she was exceptionally active in the community. Among Jenna’s many accomplishments as a student at UNM was the co-creation of LoboTHON, a dance marathon benefitting UNM Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. This program continues annually at UNM and Jenna has now implemented a similar program at Sandia High School, where she is an English teacher. Her passion to help extends outside her community. In 2016-2017, Jenna lived and taught in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina as a Fulbright scholar. She also has spent the past few summers teaching in Poland through the Kosciusko Foundation. Jenna chose teaching so that she can work with young people that may not get the support they need at home and encourage them to follow their dreams. In addition to sitting on the Board of ABQ Involved, Jenna is currently getting her Doctorate of Education from Vanderbilt University in K-12 Education Leadership and Policy. #WeareABQInvolved

Mariah Harrison

Mariah, a native New Mexican, received her master’s degree from the University of New Mexico and has spent her career devoted to the community. Mariah brings her experience with Tulane University and AmeriCorp to the Board. She currently works at the University of New Mexico as the Program Manager for the Office of Community Engaged Learning & Research in the Provost's Office. Mariah joined the Board so she could get hands-on volunteer experience again, connect with local nonprofits and continue to find ways to further engage the UNM community in service. She also co-coordinates Impact & Coffee, a nonprofit speaker series. Mariah spends her time running with ABQ Sole Sisters and expanding on her creativity with a t-shirt design project, #BurqueResists, and her @wineandwifiabq Instagram page where she explores great places to work and enjoy a glass of wine in Albuquerque. #WeareABQInvolved

Michael Opitz

Michael has a been an Albuquerque Involved Board Member since 2015. He is committed to giving back to his community in a meaningful and impactful way. He was first motivated to join Albuquerque Involved as a way to instill a sense of empathy and civic duty in his son. Michael lives his life to always answer the call for help from his friends and family. He saw Albuquerque Involved as an extension of this call for service. As an “Air Force Brat,” Michael is an avid world traveler, who chose to make Albuquerque his home. Michael works in the State Engineer's Office in Water Rights Management to simplify and quantify one of New Mexico’s most precious resources, water. Michael is a hardworking Board Member who isn’t shy about getting his hands dirty on weekend service projects alongside his son. He also contributes to the Board by producing and editing grant nominee videos with the voice over assistance of his wife, Jamie. If you don’t find Michael at a service project or working on board videos, chances are you’ll find him running around a soccer field. #WeareABQInvolved

Shana Baker

Shana manages the day-to-day operations of Albuquerque Involved. Shana is a founding member of Albuquerque Involved. Shana grew up in Texas and attended Smith College. Shana graduated from UNM Law School in 2002. Shana brings political campaign, nonprofit development and small business experience to the Board. She is motivated by the amazing organizations and community members doing great things in Albuquerque. #WeareABQInvolved

Stephanie Grube

Stephanie joined Albuquerque Involved to model community giving to her two kids. Stephanie loves to see good things are going on the world and people working hard to make a difference. She loves Albuquerque Involved because it has helped her learn about the many nonprofits doing important work in the city. Stephanie grew up in Chicago and graduated from Colorado State University in 2003 with a bachelor’s in Natural Resource Management. She moved with her husband and family an average of 9 months for the next 12 years, living in Washington, DC, Los Alamos, NM, and southern France. Stephanie's career has ranged from firefighter to executive assistant to medical device engineering. She enriches Albuquerque with her experience as a business owner in real estate investment, engineering consulting, solar energy and organic farming. #WeareABQInvolved

Virginia Loman

Virginia joined the Albuquerque Involved Board because she was having difficulty keeping service a regular part of her life. Albuquerque Involved fulfilled the need – especially with the availability to do more in the community. Albuquerque Involved makes it easy for Virginia to do hands-on, family-friendly service projects with her three kids. Virginia grew up in a military family moving around an average every 2 years. She has always looked forward to making roots in a community, which finally happened when she attended law school at UNM. She married a native New Mexican and has been a New Mexican ever since. She has been an attorney since 2002 and brings a passion for details, organization, and hands on service. #WeareABQInvolved

Dathan Weems

Dathan is a litigation and mediation attorney in private practice in Albuquerque. A native New Mexican, born and raised in Farmington. He attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas for his undergraduate and came home to get his law degree at the UNM School of Law. When he’s not working as an attorney, he’s acting as board chair for The Mayor Keller’s Volunteer Advisory Board, as well as for Albuquerque Involved, a nonprofit Dathan created that betters the community through service work and grants. Dathan’s volunteer work doesn’t stop there; he created UNM’s Spring Storm in 2001 and has worked with Paws N Stripes, the Albuquerque Community Foundation Future Fund, and the United Way Young Leader Society. Dathan is also a member of numerous mediation organizations, including the New Mexico Mediation Association, the State Bar ADR Committee, and Association for Conflict Resolution. #WeareABQInvolved

Frank Gonzales

Frank joined Albuquerque Involved right after college, thanks to his good friend and mentor, Debbie Morris. Having studied abroad in France for six months after college and then moving right into his professional career, he felt an absence of doing things in the community. Frank was introduced to Albuquerque Involved founder, Dathan Weems, and immediately appreciated two important parts of the group: the ability to give money AND volunteering for local nonprofits. He found this an as  easy way to experience volunteering for a lot of organizations and learning more about their work. Frank became a Board Member in 2015. One of the most impactful experiences he’s had with Albuquerque Involved was at HopeWorks. There he worked closely with the homeless population and felt that he had his eyes opened to the realities of what can happen to those in the community. Being very active in UNM’s Greek life and student government, Frank brings a connection to this age group. He understands their perspective and what they are looking for when transitioning into the workforce. Knowing they want to be further involved and connected to community service, he works to engage with them and ensure there are opportunities available. He also has worked hard for Albuquerque Involved in establishing and maintaining the very effective financial systems the group has implemented. Frank is a proud father of three children. He and his wife Katie, met at UNM when they were both in student government and the Greek community.