We’re excited to share the news that Jennifer Hadayia has joined Air Alliance Houston as our new Executive Director.

Jennifer brings to Air Alliance Houston over 20 years of experience in leading programs focused on some of the most pressing public health and social equity issues. In her most recent role as Senior Director of Public Health at Legacy Community Health Services, she led an interdisciplinary and diverse team to meet the public health needs of Houston’s under-served communities. Like her predecessor, Jennifer worked for several years at Harris County Public Health; while there, she directed the design of their first-ever Health Equity strategy, which included a focus on “upstream” environmental determinants of health such as air quality. 

Her career and personal history growing up in the Houston area give her the resources and knowledge to continue our mission to reduce the public health impacts from air pollution through applied research, education, and advocacy.

“At long last, attention is being paid to how environmental hazards disproportionately affect communities of color and working-class families. AAH has been at the forefront of the Environmental Justice movement. ​​I look forward to continuing this journey with you to ensure that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can breathe clean air.”

A native Houstonian, Jennifer now lives in Near Northside with her husband and a variety of rescue pets including a 33-year-old box turtle.

“I come from a Ship Channel family. I was born in Pasadena, and my father and grandfather were both longshoreman. Every day, when my father left for work, he had two things on him: his cowboy boots and his asthma inhaler. I didn’t understand then that there could be a connection between his asthma and where he lived and worked. It gives me great pride to know that I’m now in a position to help people like my father to live healthier and longer lives.”

We can’t wait to start this new chapter with Jennifer at AAH.