By Trish Svoboda

On May 21, Governor Laura Kelly declared the appointment of Irma Faudoa as the fresh executive director of the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission (KHLAAC).

The KHLAAC connects the Hispanic and Latino community in Kansas with the Governor’s Office. Its mission is to cater to the needs of Hispanic and Latino residents in various sectors including culture, education, employment, health, housing, welfare, and recreation.

“I am deeply honored to have the privilege of serving the Hispanic and Latino Communities across Kansas,” Irma Faudoa said. “Through strategic collaboration with local advocates and elected officials, we can ensure that the voices of the people in these communities are heard and represented in the decision-making processes.”

Before her recent appointment, Faudoa served as the Homeless Initiative Team Lead and Housing Navigator for the City of Topeka. In these positions, she collaborated with stakeholders to devise a range of community-based strategies to tackle homelessness and aid Spanish-speaking families in securing housing resources.

Faudoa is an alumnus of the University of Kansas, holding a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration.