Who We Are

Rashad Mahmood

Executive Director

Rashad Mahmood works to support local journalism in New Mexico as the Executive Director of the New Mexico Local News Fund. His focus is on local news equity, ensuring that people and communities all over the state have access to the news and information they need. Before coming to New Mexico a decade ago, he worked in international development in Washington DC, Egypt and Iraq. He has worked in print, online and radio journalism. In New Mexico he worked for the youth media organization Generation Justice and KUNM 89.9 FM Radio."

Mark Glaser

Director of Business and Program Development

Mark Glaser is a consultant and advisor with a focus on supporting local and independent news in America. He was the founder and executive director of MediaShift.org, and is an associate at Dot Connector Studio, working with the Knight Foundation and Democracy Fund.

Diana Alba Soular

Project Coordinator (Southern NM)

Diana Alba Soular is a New Mexico native who was raised in the state's Bootheel. She attended New Mexico State University, graduating with degrees in journalism and biology in 2004. She began work at the Las Cruces Sun-News as a reporter the same year. There, she covered numerous beats, including local government, public schools, higher education, border and immigration, water and agriculture, mental health, and Spaceport America. The highlight of her nearly 15-year-long career at the Sun-News came in 2018 when she was part of a team of USA Today Network journalists whose work was recognized with that year's Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism. In mid-2019, she left the newspaper to pursue independent writing projects, as well as to assist family.

Joe Cardillo

Consultant

Joe Cardillo is an executive coach and former journalist & marketer/communications pro. Working across tech, startups, and media companies for 13+ years, Joe led teams and learned the ins & outs of marketing/brand content, journalism, media relations, analytics, SEO, and online platforms operations. Joe is also a co-founder of Coffee + Creatives and volunteers as a lead for the Albert's List Jobs & Career Community. You can stay in touch with Joe on Twitter and LinkedIn, and learn more about their work at: www.ecosystemsandentrepreneurs.com.

Alex Ingham

Program Assistant

Alex is a community organizer in a both broad and literal sense. He began his professional career in politics before pivoting to the classroom, teaching at schools in the Midwest and Southwestern United States and East Asia. A graduate of St. John’s College, he has since 2020 been assisting organizations with a variety of programmatic, logistical, and outreach and communications needs from his home in Santa Fe.

Sarah Gustavus Lim

Founder

Sarah founded the New Mexico Local News Fund and currently works at the Solutions Journalism Network. Her previous experience over nearly 15 years in public radio and television, including as Executive Producer of National Programs at the Native American-owned Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, helped her develop a deep understanding of the value of news that responds to the needs of communities. She holds an M.A in Media and Communication from City University London and a B.S. in Communication studies from the University of Texas at Austin.