Theresa Avina

Board Treasurer

Co-Chair Festival Committee

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Theresa Avina is originally from the Chicago Area and moved to the Gulf Coast for a 2nd time in 2017. She resides in Long Beach and is a proud mother of a queer teen and her many fur babies. Theresa is an employee of Hancock Whitney Bank in the Lending Services Department. She serves on their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, as well as Hancock Whitney Bank’s recently-formed Women’s Associate Resource Group. Theresa is also fluent in Spanish.

Theresa has a passion for volunteering that is fueled by the desire to advocate, empower, and give voices to marginalized communities while promoting equal human rights for all. In 2019, Theresa volunteered at Gulf Coast Equality Fest for Free Mom Hugs and then as an Event Volunteer for Gulf Coast Equality Fest in 2021. Theresa was elected to Gulf Coast Equality’s Board of Directors in 2021 and in 2022 was elected as Board Treasurer. Theresa also periodically volunteers with For Pet’s Sake in Long Beach, MS as a pet foster and serves lunch at Feed My Sheep in Gulfport.