Miriam Hall McIntosh
Miriam Hall McIntosh is the Development and Operations Director at Junior Achievement of New Mexico and a nonprofit leader committed to expanding educational access and economic opportunity for young people. She was raised in Ghana, West Africa, where her parents served as missionaries, an experience that deeply shaped her worldview and instilled an early understanding of global inequality, service, and community responsibility. Growing up in a cross-cultural environment helped her develop a strong sense of purpose and a desire to show up in the world through meaningful, impact-driven work.
During high school and her early college years, she was initially unsure of what a professional path in service work would look like until she discovered her university’s nonprofit education and management programming. This led her to intentionally pursue nonprofit studies and become actively engaged with local organizations through volunteer and early career opportunities. She later entered education through Teach For America, which trains and places educators in high-need schools. As a middle school special education math teacher at a charter school serving urban Indigenous youth in Albuquerque, she focused on math intervention, differentiated instruction, and IEP facilitation while also supporting students and families with broader resource needs.
Following her time in the classroom, she transitioned back into the nonprofit sector, joining Junior Achievement of New Mexico in February 2023 as a Development Coordinator, where she focused on grant writing, grant management, and organizational development. She has since advanced into her current role as Development & Operations Director, where she leads fundraising strategy, operations, and program support to advance the organization’s mission of preparing young people for economic success. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma and alumna of Carlson Executive Education, University of Minnesota, she is also a One Young World Ambassador and ABF 40 Under 40 honoree. She continues to focus on scaling impact, strengthening community partnerships, and growing alongside her organization during a pivotal moment of expansion.
• Teaching Licensure in Special Education
• Alternative Teacher Licensure Program
• National Leadership Conference
• University of Oklahoma - B.A. in International and Intercultural Communication
• 40 Under 40 Award
• Zurich Foundation Scholarship for One Young World Global Leadership Conference (2024)
• U.S. Delegate for One Young World Conference
• Main Stage Speaker on International Peace Day
• Board Leadership with the City of Albuquerque
• City of Albuquerque
• Habitat for Humanity International
• Mandy's Farm
• Locker #505 Student Clothing Bank
• Ronald McDonald House
What do you attribute your success to?
I am a very passionate person, and I love what I do. I not only just find it fulfilling, but I really love having the opportunity to serve my community and also put a spotlight on the things that I'm a part of, whether it's my organization or the board leadership I'm involved in with the City of Albuquerque. With all of the accomplishments and the conversations that I get to be a part of, for me, it really is just knowing that I have an opportunity to share a light on the fact that there are helpers out there doing the good work. There are people dedicated, myself included, every day, who have dedicated their careers to making where we live, our communities, our people, having a better place to live in.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My piece of advice that I would give to someone, especially a woman coming into what can be a very tough industry - it's very fulfilling, but it can be tough, and I think the same goes for education as well - is you need to find people who believe in your potential. When you have people every day who are speaking to your value, who speak into that potential and really believe in you, you kind of start to believe it yourself, and you're I think just a little bit more willing to reach for those higher aspirations. But you also know you can get through the tough parts, too, when you have people in your corner cheering you on, but also who already know that you can do it.