Felicia DePaula joins the New Mexico Tourism Department as the Tourism Development Coordinator. She has more than 10 years of experience in the hotel and restaurant industry, starting in high school as a customer service representative at the Radisson of Santa Fe. Felicia then moved into the restaurant industry while attending college in Las Cruces. She most recently worked at GLAAD in New York City as the Marketing Coordinator. Felicia most recently working as the Family Navigation Program Manager at Las Cumbres Community Services, where she worked with high risk children and families throughout Taos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties.
Felicia was born and raised in Northern New Mexico. She loves to travel between New York and New Mexico, but has a fond admiration for the weather the Land of Enchantment has to offer. She also appreciates New Mexico's outdoor activities, especially snowboarding and softball. She looks forward to spending more time traveling in-state, exploring all the beautiful scenery New Mexico has to offer.
Felicia is a graduate of the Journalism Program at New Mexico State University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree, with an emphasis in print and photojournalism.
Get to know Felicia more though a Q&A:
Q: What do you like about working for the Tourism Department?
A: I have enjoyed reading through all of the provided magazines. It has really opened my eyes to the beauty that we are surrounded by in New Mexico and the photography in the magazines is brilliant.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish for the tourism industry as a member of Team True?
A: I’m hoping that I will be able to integrate some of what I learned by working low income families at Las Cumbres, and what I’m learning in my current position to provide opportunities for struggling families to be able to experience what the state has to offer and the beauty behind its name, without budget playing such an essential role. A lot of the time families that fall within a certain demographic can’t afford to travel recreationally and cannot afford to do anything beyond what they are required to meet the bare necessities of life. It would be amazing to provide some type of opportunity for the youth of Northern New Mexico to experience the states magic and travel within the state to grow, learn and experience.
Q: What is your favorite New Mexican dish?
A: Well, seeing as how I’m allergic to corn (unfortunately), it limits a lot my intake of New Mexican food, but I have always loved breakfast burritos and flautas and dream about both regularly.
Q: What is your favorite thing about New Mexico?
A: I love that in our state we get to experience all four seasons to their fullest, the weather in New Mexico is what is most appealing to me.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I love cooking, I truly enjoy making all dishes Italian. That being said my second favorite hobby is hitting the gym, out of necessity from eating all of the Italian food. I also love to travel!
Q: What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics?
A: Snowboarding would be such a blast to compete in. I would love to be able to land such difficult jumps and feel like I’m flying.