Board of
Directors
Mr. Bhatia is a dedicated advocate for fiscal responsibility, education reform, and renewable energy, working to create sustainable and equitable solutions for communities. With over 25 years of experience in public policy, he has championed government and democratic reforms, fostering public-private coalitions to drive economic development and climate initiatives. He currently serves as the John L. Weinberg/Goldman Sachs & Co. Visiting Professor at Princeton University, where he lectures on public and international affairs.
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Bhatia was influenced by his mother, a political science professor, and his father, an economist and partition war survivor, instilling in him values of public service, opportunity, and civil rights. As President of the Senate of Puerto Rico (2013-2017), he led critical fiscal and energy reforms, including legislation mandating a transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Previously, as Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (2005-08), he represented Puerto Rico’s policy positions before the U.S. Congress and federal agencies.
Internationally, Bhatia served as President of the Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas (COPA), facilitating legislative dialogues across the Western Hemisphere. He has also led NHCSL, CSG-East, and the U.S. Senate Presidents’ Forum, advocating for climate change policies and economic growth. A Princeton and Stanford Law graduate, he has testified before the U.S. Congress and United Nations and been featured in major media outlets. His commitment to public service and policy innovation continues to shape discussions on democracy, sustainability, and economic development.
Linda Hernández Rosado is a dedicated advocate for media accessibility, education, and social justice, with a strong commitment to community service. She has played a pivotal role in campaigns against domestic violence and AIDS prevention and has served as a Board Member for United Way of Puerto Rico. As a co-founder of the Images in Movement Video Archive at the General Archives Library, she has worked to preserve and promote media history. Additionally, she has served as a Board Director for Latino Justice PRLDEF and led an Emmy Award-winning team (2017) at the Puerto Rico Public Broadcasting Corporation.
Her extensive career in media and communications includes leadership roles in public and private broadcasting. She served as President of the Puerto Rico Public Broadcasting Corporation, overseeing public radio and television, and spent 20 years as Vice President and News Director for WLII TV Channel 11. She has also held positions with WKAQ-TV Channel 2 and WAPA-TV Channel 4 and was a Professor of Television Production at American University in Puerto Rico.
At HITN, Hernández was Chief Operating Officer from 2009 to 2011, overseeing television operations before joining its Board of Directors. She also led El Nuevo Día (Orlando) as Executive Director, managing newsroom operations and coverage. Hernández holds a Master’s in Library Science from the University of Puerto Rico and an Advanced Executive Program (AEP) Certification from the Kellogg Institute at Northwestern University. Her lifelong dedication to media, education, and advocacy continues to shape the industry and empower communities.
Nelson Denis is an attorney, author, film director, and former representative to the New York State Assembly.
A graduate of Harvard University and Yale Law School, Denis was an associate with the New York law firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine. He served in the New York State Assembly for two terms, from 1996 through 2000, where he represented El Barrio/East Harlem and Manhattan Valley.
Denis was also the editorial director of El Diario/La Prensa, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in New York City. At El Diario, he published over 300 editorials and won the Best Editorial Writing award from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Denis has also published extensively in the New York Times, New York Daily News, The Nation, Newsday, Harvard Political Review, Publishers Weekly, Orlando Sentinel, The National Institute of Latino Policy, and other national publications.
Denis recently published War Against All Puerto Ricans (Nation Books, 2015), a non-fiction history book about the life of Puerto Rican Nationalist leader Pedro Albizu Campos, and his life-long struggle for the independence of Puerto Rico.
Denis wrote and directed the feature-length film Vote For Me! which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. He also wrote numerous feature-length screenplays, which have won awards from the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and CineFestival. Denis also wrote the screenplay adaptation of his own book War Against All Puerto Ricans.
Denis is currently completing his second feature-length film Make America Great Again – a dark comedy about a Dominican immigrant who, instead of finding the American dream, is accused of terrorism and chased by ICE agents all over New York City.
Long before Mr. Angel Cruz, Esq., joined the HITN Board, he served the New York State judiciary, first as a court attorney in Supreme Court Bronx County, then later as a law clerk to the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Term First Judicial Department. Mr. Cruz is a lifelong resident of the Bronx and a passionate advocate for his fellow residents. Mr. Cruz is today, a principal of Maldonado and Cruz, PLLC., a small boutique firm dedicated primarily to criminal defense on 161st Street in Bronx County. He also serves on New York State Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission (IJEQC) in the First Judicial Department and the 18B Appellate Division First Department Assigned Counsel Plan Central Screening Committee, which plays a vital role in ensuring the quality of advocacy on behalf of indigent defendants. Mr. Cruz, Esq. is currently admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of the United States; the Federal District Courts of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and the Federal District of Puerto Rico.
Carmen serves as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Clayco Inc., an architectural, engineering, and construction services firm with over $7 billion in annual revenue. Since 2013, she has advised Clayco on complex commercial real estate construction and design-build projects, leading negotiations and resolving disputes on projects ranging from $100 million to $400 million or more. In addition to her leadership in corporate governance, compliance, and acquisitions, Carmen previously spent 26 years practicing corporate restructuring and business law, culminating in her role as Chair of the Corporate Restructuring Practice for North America at Baker & McKenzie LLP.
Ms. Hernandez is a dedicated advocate for many community initiatives, using her expertise in business law to support pro bono initiatives throughout her legal career. Her prior civic work has included serving on the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and assisting the Foundation with a historic transaction preserving the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wrights life works with New York City’s Museum of Modern Art and Columbia University’s Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library. She has also previously served on (i) the Metropolitan Pier Exposition Authority Board (ii) the Illinois Finance Authority; and (iii) as Commissioner on the Great Lakes Commission.
Recently, Carmen was recognized for her exceptional contributions in Crain's Notable Latino Leaders for 2024 and received the 2025 Felisa Rincón de Gautíer Legal Trailblazer Award from Chicago’s Puerto Rican Arts Alliance. She is a founding member of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture and currently serves as Trustee on the board of the DuSable Black History Museum and Educational Center.
Carmen serves as a HITN Board Member, contributing her expertise to support the organization’s mission of empowering Hispanic communities through education and media.
Michael D. Nieves is President and CEO of HITN, one of the first non-profit Spanish language television networks in the U.S. During his first two years as CEO (2015-2017), HITN added more than 10 million Latino Households to its subscriber base. In addition, Mr. Nieves spearheaded a historic partnership with Sprint Communications. During the 2016 election, Nieves conceived the HITN original production, Tu Momento, a Spanish-language television program explaining the US electoral process from state primaries and caucuses to Inauguration Day. The program was awarded the Social Good Leader Award of 2016 by Cynopsis Media. Under Mr. Nieves’ leadership, HITN has received three Emmy nominations and has won the prestigious Telly Award for the Public Affairs show featured on HITN TV called Estudio DC and a Telly Award for Tu Cuentas Cine Youth Fest.
For over 25 years, Nieves has helped build the political landscape in New York by serving as strategic and policy advisor and consultant to numerous elected officials and campaigns across New York City and New York State. Campaigns have included the elections of state and city representatives, borough presidents, members of Congress, and judicial candidates. Among those Mr. Nieves has served are Assemblyman and former Bronx Democratic leader José Rivera, Assemblyman Robert Rodríguez, New York City Council Member Robert Cornegy, former Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY), New York City Civil Court Judge Lisa Headley, and Transit Workers Union Local 100. In 2015, Mr. Nieves served as a key strategic advisor to the Jesús “Chuy” Garcia campaign in Chicago, which resulted in Chicago’s first-ever run-off election for the mayoralty.
Michael Nieves has a distinguished record in government service. He has served as Senior Advisor to the Majority Leader of the New York City Council; as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Council Speaker; as Director of State and Federal Affairs for the Council; and as Deputy Director of Council Services. In the latter position, he oversaw the administrative functions and budget of the New York City Council and individual Council members. As Director of State and Federal Affairs, Nieves was the principal lobbyist for the New York City Council concerning all New York State-related matters. Among Latino elected officials, Mr. Nieves is renowned for his political strategy, public policy, and election law expertise.
Mr. Nieves is hailed by many as one of the top Latino political operatives in the State of New York, receiving, among others, “The Top 75 Political Consultants for 2022” Award, The 2022 “Power of Diversity: Latino 100” Award, and the 2022 “Brooklyn Power 100” Award by City and State Magazine. He has also served as an advisor on educational policy for the government of Puerto Rico.
Mr. Nieves’ numerous civic and community involvements include the boards of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Chicago, the New York Puerto Rican Parade, and New York City Public Schools Community School Board #32. He and his family are active members of St. Barbara’s Catholic Church in Brooklyn, NY.
