Desiree Serna

Desiree H. Serna Martinez, MPA, PhdDc. is a San Antonio-Latina journalist, publicist and nonprofit strategist. Hailing from the Westside of San Antonio, almost Dr. Desiree Serna Martinez, continues the narrative of Latina success from the barrio.

Founding Philanthropic & Public Relations LLC in 2014, she is the principal success strategist providing clients from all industries various expertise and consulting activities, such as: nonprofit strategic planning, fundraising, public relations and celebrity event planning. Desiree is regarded as a highly sought after publicist and nonprofit strategist with precision-like detail on all projects representing industry elites such as professional sports athletes, charitable foundations, magazine publications and entertainment leaders.

Her expert status as the “nonprofit guru” has led her to further teach in higher education. Almost-Dr. Desiree has taught at various universities and colleges in San Antonio over the past 10 years in graduate nonprofit and leadership courses as a professor in the Master of Public Administration program at the University of Texas at San Antonio and also undergraduate political science courses at Northwest Vista Community College. Desiree was honored to be selected to join the prestigious Ethnic Studies Educator Summit in 2022, a competitive selection process open across the U.S. Desiree further acts as a mentor to many youth and young adults.

Desiree also is a senior editor and executive publicist at SA Monthly Magazine where she also contributes to writing about music and politics. In this role, Desiree gives the San Antonio market insight on music, charities and politics in the Texas scene. Currently, she is authoring, “The Entrepreneur's Daughter” and a nonprofit success workbook, scheduled for publication in Winter 2024.

Desiree is a second-generation San Antonio business owner, first-generation college graduate and multi-generational chingona raised in the Westside. She enjoys giving back to her community, sitting on several community boards in San Antonio and serves as a mentor to many up and coming youth. Desiree is also a featured mistress of ceremony of World AIDS Day Celebration, private, public and conference speaking events. In Summer 2024, Desiree will speak at LULAC’s National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

She loves spending her days with her family and friends. Desiree married California native, Alex Martinez, together they have four beautiful children that are also being raised and thriving in the Westside of San Antonio.