Diana Arevalo, MBA
Diana Arevalo, MBA, is a public policy and healthcare advocacy leader based in San Antonio, Texas, currently serving as Managing Director of Advocacy with The ALS Association. In this role, she leads multi-state legislative strategy across 11 states, working at the intersection of healthcare policy, government relations, and community advocacy. Her focus is on advancing legislation that improves access to care, strengthens insurance protections, and supports individuals and families impacted by ALS and other chronic health conditions. She brings a 360-degree understanding of politics and policy to her work, ensuring that lived experiences are translated into meaningful legislative action.
Diana has been with The ALS Association for approximately three years, where she transitioned from initially overseeing advocacy efforts in Texas to expanding her leadership across a broad regional portfolio. The opportunity aligned closely with her long-standing commitment to public service and her continued interest in shaping public policy after previously serving as a Texas state representative for one term. That experience reinforced her dedication to policy work, particularly in healthcare, and solidified her belief in the importance of staying engaged in legislative advocacy beyond elected office.
In her current role, Diana works closely with advocates, caregivers, and individuals personally affected by ALS to connect them directly with lawmakers and elevate their stories in the policymaking process. She helps guide efforts that secure appropriations funding for clinics and care services, advance reforms in insurance coverage, and address critical gaps in the healthcare system. Her day-to-day work often involves monitoring legislative activity across multiple states simultaneously, engaging in ongoing communication with stakeholders, and supporting advocacy campaigns at both the state and local levels. She is deeply committed to maintaining strong relationships with both advocates and policymakers to ensure sustained progress on issues that impact vulnerable communities.
• Certificate in Public Affairs Management
• Certificate in PAC and grassroots management
• Certificate in government relations and lobbying
• Introduction to Lobbying & Government Relations
• Introduction to Grassroots Advocacy
• Introduction to State Legislative Tracking
• Introduction to Federal Legislative Tracking
• Quorum Fundamentals
• The University of Texas at San Antonio - BBA
• Our Lady of the Lake University - MBA, Management
• Public Affairs Council
• UT Austin's Women's Campaign School (former mentor)
• Mentor at UT Austin's Women's Campaign School
• Educational grants selection committee member for Smart Credit Union
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to knowing that there are people, there are names to all these advocates that I've gotten to know, especially in these past few years. Some who have passed away, and all they wanted to do while changing one policy at a time was to help the next person who had this disease. That really stays with me, because they knew the policies they were working on weren't going to help them. They were gonna help somebody else. That motivates you. I've seen the most powerful examples of people fighting to change policies that would never benefit them personally. They showed up anyway because helping the next person mattered. When you see people working on policies that won't help them but will help somebody else, it reminds you that the work I do is bigger than me. That kind of selfless purpose keeps me going and wanting to do more and do better.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I will never forget my last day at the White House when my boss told me to don't look back, and just run with this experience. Don't look back, look forward, and run with this experience. And I have. I keep thinking about that, because it's not just from there, it's everything else since. Just keep moving forward. Those words have stayed with me throughout my entire career. When she told me to run with the experience and not look back, it was a charge to move forward boldly, to take everything I learned and let it propel me into the next chapter. That advice has shaped how I approach every opportunity since then, always moving forward, never dwelling on what's behind me.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise them to be authentic and know your why. I think it's important that when you get into the advocacy space, don't wait for others to lead. Don't wait for someone to say, okay, it's your turn. Just go. There's never gonna be a right time or a wrong time. People have to remember, especially whether you're a young woman or a young man, when you get into the advocacy space, you have to acknowledge this is not a single-person game. This is a team sport. Public policy and advocacy, in order to make the changes you want to see, it's a team sport, and you have to be able to work well with others. But don't hesitate to speak up. Don't hesitate to take up space. And as long as you know your why, and why you're motivated to do this, these issues are much bigger than yourself. They affect people's lives. When you know your purpose and stay authentic to it, you can lead without waiting for permission.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think you're always trying to make sure that your interests align with people who are in power. I don't know if you want to call it a challenge, but there's always leadership changes. You want to make sure you build relationships with those people, and also work on the relationships that you have with the advocates, because they have their own relationships with lawmakers. I think whenever there's a change in leadership, you have to be very flexible, so I don't know if you want to call it really a challenge, because at this point, it's just so routine. Change always is constant. It's just how you approach things. The key is maintaining strong relationships with both advocates and lawmakers, staying flexible through constant leadership transitions, and ensuring your priorities stay aligned as the political landscape evolves.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think keeping your word is a big one. I also believe in being open and honest with the people that you work with, especially in the case when you are working on public policy. It could be very easy to just go through the legislative process without talking to advocates, but there are people that really want to know, okay, where is this bill at? What could we do at this step? What happens next? And they're very invested in this. I think always making sure you have an open line of communication, you're transparent about the process, because not everybody's going to know what you know. Not everyone's going to understand that because it passed the committee, they may think the bill passed, and that's not the case. You have to always make sure you keep your word, you follow through, you have an open line of communication, especially for those who are affected by your policies that you're working on. But also, you know, maintain a good rapport with the lawmakers you're working with, too. And having them know what are your limits, what are your non-negotiables, and making sure that aligns.