Age 29, Manchester resident
Professor of Business, Manchester Community College
Family: Mother, Silvia Fernandez
High school: Nashua High School North
College/post grad degrees: Granite State College, B.S. Business Management 2017; Granite State College, MBA 2021; and National University Doctoral in Business Administration candidate 2025
What motivates you to give back to your community?
As a current educator in both secondary and higher education, I value giving back to the community. I want to inspire and encourage my students to work with our community in New Hampshire to help network and create those partnerships. After teaching Business Education at my former high school Nashua High School North, I wanted to continue my legacy, so I started the first annual “Christian Marcelo Business Education Scholarship” program for business students at the school. I wanted to give back to the students by providing them with a scholarship opportunity to help pay for some of their college expenses. I want to empower them to continue their studies after high school.
What advice would you give your 22-year-old self?
Follow your heart, even if that means changing careers. After working for the TJX Companies for 13 years, I made the decision to transition into education and teach. It was a very difficult decision to walk away from a promising career in the corporate world. Now that I have transitioned into education, it is the best career I could have asked for – changing the lives of my students on purpose.
What would make New Hampshire more attractive to young professionals?
Affordable housing for sure. I think New Hampshire has diversified with inclusion and diversity in the workplace and there are a lot of opportunities in the workforce for different industries, there just seems to be a decline in housing.
Do you see yourself living and working in New Hampshire at age 55-plus?
Yes, absolutely. I love the community and the opportunities that the state has provided me. Working for the Community College System of N.H. and working closely with local businesses and the community has allowed me to build great relationships. New Hampshire is evolving and the state is continuing to be diverse. I feel that the community in New Hampshire is very welcoming and accepting of others.
Volunteer activities: Board member NHBEA (New Hampshire Business Educators Association); Nashua Chamber of Commerce board member; Nashua High School Business Education board member.
Last major achievement: I was nominated to serve as secretary and executive board member for NHBEA (New Hampshire Business Educators Association). In 2023, I started the first annual “Christian Marcelo Business Education Scholarship” program for business students at Nashua High School North. As a former business teacher at Nashua North, I wanted to give back to the students by providing them with a scholarship opportunity to help pay for some of their college expenses.
