Diana Arévalo didn’t come from power—she came from purpose.

Raised in San Antonio by two public school teachers, she was taught early that service isn’t optional—it’s a responsibility. No shortcuts. No safety nets. Just hard work, community, and the belief that you show up for people.

She carried that mindset into every opportunity she earned—not given. From gaining internships at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the United States Senate in the Office of U.S. Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy to the U.S. Department of Education’s White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, and ultimately to the White House Office of Public Engagement, Diana learned how decisions are made—and more importantly, who they impact.

She strengthened that foundation as a Fellow with the United Leaders Institute for Political Service at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and as a graduate of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University—an experience that sharpened her ability to lead, run, and win in spaces where people like her were often overlooked. Years later, she would come full circle—serving as a mentor for the LBJ Women’s Campaign School at The University of Texas at Austin, helping guide the next generation of women leaders into those same rooms.

She wasn’t there by accident. She got there by doing whatever it took—including selling barbecue plates to fund her early opportunities and investing in her own path when no one else could.

Those early experiences weren’t just resume lines—they were a front-row seat to power. And they made one thing clear: too many people like her family weren’t in the room.

But Diana didn’t just study systems—she embedded herself in community. She showed up in classrooms, boardrooms, and neighborhoods across San Antonio. From advising leaders within LULAC Texas to serving on the San Antonio Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women, the City of San Antonio Convention and Visitors Commission, the VIA Metropolitan Transit Citizens Advisory Council, and the Environmental Health Oversight Committee for CPS Energy, she put in the work locally long before holding office.

She helped shape initiatives like the City’s Recycling and Resource Recovery Plan, and mentored students through Communities in Schools and taught personal finance for middle school students through Junior Achievement of South Texas—because for her, leadership doesn’t start in elected office. It starts in the community.

At the same time, she was building the foundation to lead. A graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio with a B.B.A in Management and an M.B.A. from Our Lady of the Lake University, Diana combined education with action—earning her MBA while continuing to invest in leadership development at every level.

Elected in 2016, Diana Arévalo
served as a State Representative for Texas House District 116 for one term. During the 85th Texas Legislature, where she focused on expanding educational opportunities, improving healthcare, and advocating for veterans and working families. She served on the House Public Health Committee, Defense & Veterans' Affairs Committee, and Rules & Resolutions Committee, and was an active member of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, the House Democratic Caucus, and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, where she contributed to discussions on healthcare policy affecting Hispanic communities nationwide.

During her term, Diana authored and passed House Bill 1081, legislation that expanded eligibility for the New Instructional Facilities Allotment (NIFA). The law broadened access to state funding by allowing more schools—not just newly constructed campuses—to qualify for financial assistance, helping school districts expand educational opportunities for students across Texas.

In recognition of her leadership and commitment to public service, Diana was named "Freshman of the Year" by the Legislative Study Group and received the "Patient Protector" Award from the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists for her work on behalf of Texas patients.

Today, Diana Arévalo is on the frontlines of policy fights that matter.

As Managing Director of Advocacy at the The ALS Association, she leads state and federal advocacy efforts across more than a dozen states—driving legislation, securing appropriations, building coalitions, and pushing systems to work better for the people they were meant to serve.

She’s not just in the room—she’s moving the conversation.

Diana leads complex, multi-state policy strategies aimed at one goal: making ALS a livable disease by 2030. She works directly with state legislators, insurance regulators, Medicaid agencies, and healthcare leaders to expand access to care—including palliative services, home- and community-based care, telehealth, and treatment affordability.

Her work delivers results.

In Texas, she helped lead the passage of Medigap reform through the Chris Larkin ALS Act—expanding access to critical coverage for people living with ALS. In Nevada, she advanced similar Medigap protections. In Oklahoma, she helped pass the Barbara Weber ALS Grant, creating direct support for patients and families. In Alabama, she secured state appropriations funding dedicated to ALS care and services. Across states like Louisiana and beyond, she continues to build momentum for policies that put patients first.

Behind every win is strategy.

Diana develops and executes legislative campaigns from the ground up—analyzing policy, drafting testimony, aligning stakeholders, and coordinating advocacy efforts at every stage of the process. She builds and leads cross-disease coalitions that bring together patients, providers, and national organizations to tackle shared challenges—from Medigap access to biomarker testing, rare disease coordination, and caregiver support.

She collaborates with coalitions across the country, including the Texas Medigap Coalition, Nevada Medigap Coalition, National Medigap Coalition, Care 4 Mississippi Coalition, Arizona Chronic Care Together, All Copays Count Coalition, and multiple state Rare Disease and Biomarker coalitions—creating unified voices strong enough to move policy.

She also represents this work on national stages, engaging with organizations like NAIC, NCOIL, and NCSL to shape broader conversations around healthcare access, affordability, and equity.

Outside of her work with The ALS Association, Diana co-wrote a grant with Elishoel Reyes and secured a $1.475 million grant to launch the Community Transformation Alliance (CTA), an initiative dedicated to advancing health equity and strengthening civic leadership in communities along the Texas border. Through CTA, Diana has helped build a community-driven model that brings residents, local leaders, and community organizations together to identify barriers to health and well-being and develop sustainable, locally driven solutions.

Under her leadership, CTA focuses on expanding access to opportunity through culturally rooted dialogue, leadership development, civic engagement, and advocacy training. The organization equips residents with the tools to engage directly with decision-makers, address transportation and other social determinants of health, and transform lived experiences into meaningful policy change. Through initiatives such as the Legislative Changemakers Advocacy Academy, establishing community leadership councils, hosting public engagement research programs, CTA is building long-term civic capacity while empowering historically underrepresented communities to shape the future of Maverick County.

The titles may change, but the mission remains the same: serve with integrity, lead with purpose, and make a meaningful difference. “The real measure of your work isn’t in accomplishments-it’s in how many people are better off because you showed up.”