Nina Carranco advances grantmaking and water policy reform in New Mexico. She came to the Water Foundation from The Nature Conservancy in New Mexico, where she led state and federal policy work on climate, forests, land, and water as director of external affairs. Nina built public administration and policy development expertise through multiple roles in state government. Most recently, Nina worked in the State Budget Division of the Department of Finance and Administration, which leads the executive budget process in New Mexico and administers the state budget following enactment. Nina has a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law, a M.S. in geology from the University of Michigan­­, and a B.A. in geology from Pomona College.