Esmeralda Aharon is the embodiment of resilience, faith, and purpose. A first-generation American born near the U.S.- Mexico border, she over- came poverty by working as a migrant farmworker. Her journey took a transformative turn when she joined the United States Air Force, where she served for 26 years in Religious Affairs, spending over 20 months in the Middle East across four deployments and supporting service members and their families to develop spiritual resilience. After retiring from the Air Force, she became a champion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Saint Louis University School of Medicine where she promotes social and healthcare equity and directs retention programs for faculty and staff. In 2023, she became a contributing author in the #1 international best-seller Tenacity: The Deconstructing G.R.I.T. Collection, and 10 months later, she is amplifying the voices of Latinas through the authorship arm of Latinas Rising LLC. Aharon’s commitment to service is unmatched, earning her The President’s Volunteer Service Award, twice. Her advocacy extends to marginalized communities through The Mission Continues, STLJuntos, and as part of the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis. Additionally, she empowers women veterans as a founding member of Sisters in Service-Greater St. Louis. Her accolades include the Hispanic Lifetime Achievement (Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), the LATINA Style Distinguished Military Service, 375th Air Mobility Wing Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, United Service Organizations of Missouri Armed Forces Salute, and the Spirit of the Four Chaplains, among others. A distinguished community leader, her unwavering spirit shines through her many roles: combat veteran, author, entrepreneur, mentor, yogini, and mother of four. As a lifelong learner, she is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education.
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