Mario Lopez -  Volunteer Faculty at the Leadership Institute

Mario H. Lopez is the President of the Hispanic Leadership Fund, an organization that advances public policy that promotes liberty, opportunity, and prosperity for all. HLF works with policymakers, community leaders, and advocates on Capitol Hill and state legislatures, before regulatory agencies, and in the courts.

HLF is the first free-market non-partisan national advocacy organization governed exclusively by Latino political and public policy professionals. Since its inception in 2008, HLF has successfully completed tens of millions of constituent contacts across all mediums, executing communication campaigns in English and Spanish to educate constituents about where candidates for public office and elected officials stand on critical issues.

Lopez appears and is quoted regularly in English and Spanish language media outlets. In addition to writing as an official Contributor to The Hill, he has written for dozens of publications on politics and policy. A passionate communicator dedicated to growing the conservative movement, his lifelong political involvement started with founding the first High School chapter of Young Americans for Freedom in California. As a professional, he has extensive experience in media and public relations, political campaigns, and the public policy process. He was named one of the 50 Most Influential Latino Republicans by Newsmax magazine, which called him “A strong voice for Latino interests and Republican ideals.”

Previously, Lopez was tapped to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives as Executive Director of the Congressional Hispanic Conference—a Republican caucus that promoted legislation and policy. He implemented communication and legislative strategies and focused heavily on coalition building, messaging, and issue management on a wide variety of topics. He served as liaison to the White House, the executive branch, the private sector, and public policy communities.

In 2015 Lopez was appointed by Sen. Orrin Hatch (UT) to serve on the U.S. Senate Republican Task Force of Hispanic Affairs. Lopez previously served on the Hispanic Advisory Board for the Republican National Committee and was a presidential appointee for George W. Bush. In his first Capitol Hill post, he served as Deputy Director of Coalitions and Outreach for the House Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts. He has been on campaigns in California and Virginia.

Lopez earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in Philosophy from the University of San Diego. He is a graduate of The Fund for American Studies’ Institute on Political Journalism and performed graduate work at the University of Southern California in both Political Science and the highly regarded Master of Professional Writing program.

Mario Lopez