PCC Team

I focus on aligning PCC’s work and resources with our student-oriented mission to address disparities in college completion by race and income. I am fortunate to do that along with the strong and talented PCC team, as well as through our many organizational relationships.

I know and have seen the power of higher education to transform lives and communities, and I am driven by a commitment to opening educational opportunities where systems to date have limited them. Our economy and our democracy depend in many ways on the collective effort educational opportunity requires.

I grew up in the South, and after studying the civil rights movement as an undergraduate, committed my career to addressing inequities in education. That commitment led me through several state- and federal-level policy, research, and advocacy roles—and, ultimately, to PCC.

PCC strives to be deeply evidence-driven in all it does, and I help with the research and data efforts that can keep us grounded in work that can measurably improve equity in both higher ed policy and practice. 

I am passionate about helping to remove barriers and reverse historical inequities for students. I believe that we have a moral imperative to do so, but also feel that economics, data, and research can be utilized in advocating for change, and I hope to add that lens throughout our work.

After working in communications for an educational institution, I wanted the skills to analyze policy through a quantitative lens. I earned a master’s degree at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, and worked with City Colleges of Chicago through a Mayoral Fellowship, before coming to PCC in 2018.

As Director of Development, I’m building a sustainable funding engine that fuels PCC’s mission to make Illinois higher education more equitable. I cultivate partnerships with funders and allies who believe in expanding opportunity for first-generation, low-income, Black, and Latinx students.

I believe that when students succeed, families thrive, communities are strengthened, and economies grow. Education transforms lives, and equitable access to college is key to creating a more just and prosperous future for us all.

My career has centered on connecting resources to purpose. I’ve advanced sustainable, community-centric fundraising that honors relationships and shared impact. As a first-generation college graduate and daughter of an immigrant, I know how transformative education can be, and that knowledge drives my commitment to this work.

I oversee the implementation of effective operating standards across all PCC departments and ensure PCC meets financial, development, audit, and HR compliance.

My college experience is a story full of challenges as an undocumented student. I graduated after nine  years experiencing all systemic barriers in higher ed, which still exist today. Working at PCC represents my opportunity to join an organization driving change so others don’t have the same college experience I had.

After growing up impoverished in Mexico, I moved to Chicago to realize my dreams of a college education. I have worked in the nonprofit sector for 12 years developing my skill set in operations. At PCC, I get to utilize my diverse talents towards a mission I believe in.

I am responsible for strategically and creatively telling the PCC story, by sharing its mission within policy, institutional change, and data and research. That’s done through PCC digital channels, relationships with media, and community engagement.

Throughout my life, I have been the “only.” The only person of color in the classroom. The only woman in the decision-making table. I want to make sure others that look like me have opportunities to complete their educational journey and advance in their chosen career.

I earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Capital University, and my master’s degree in education from Bowling Green State University. I have spent most of my career on university campuses in a marketing communications capacity.

I leverage evidence to advance policies and practices that ensure each student can obtain a postsecondary education.

Starting my career working in higher education, I have seen directly how policies can dictate access to opportunity. A college education opens up so many doors for students, and I am committed to ensuring that all students, particularly those for whom our systems have overlooked, are equipped with the tools that enable them to succeed.

I earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and my master’s degree in public policy from Vanderbilt University. Starting my career in higher education, I pivoted to work in education policy advocacy in Tennessee, which ultimately led me to PCC.

As the Government Affairs Manager, I educate members of the Illinois General Assembly on issues that impact equitable college access and completion. I also monitor the political environment, manage relationships with state policymakers, and identify opportunities to promote state and local policies that improve equity in higher education.

I’m a higher education advocate because I know the power of an advanced degree. For too long, Black, Brown, and low-income people have been locked out of higher education because of the soaring increase in tuition, looming student loans with high-interest rates and fees, and minimal support in state and federal aid.

I first became interested in higher education policy as a Research Associate for CTBA. Seeing the disparities among the public universities during the budget impasse, I co-authored a report to highlight the decade trend of disinvestment that predated it. Years later, I’m still passionate and committed to making higher education obtainable, accessible, and affordable for those who seek it.

As Communications Manager, I create and execute digital marketing strategies, utilizing multiple platforms to increase PCC’s outreach to legislators, students, university faculty, and more. By creating content that showcases PCC’s research, data, policy work, and advocacy efforts, our resources become more accessible to the public, bringing awareness to impactful higher education legislation.

As a first-generation student, I believe everyone should have a fair chance to access the opportunities that higher education degrees can provide. I want to utilize my skills as a marketer to make sure Illinoisans are informed on the legislation and data that directly influences their higher education experience.

Throughout my childhood, my mother, an immigrant from Mexico, and my father, a blue-collar machinist, emphasized the opportunities that education provided. After earning degrees in integrated marketing communications and international relations from Duquesne University, I spent four years in corporate settings before joining PCC to combine my passion for marketing, education, and helping others.

I manage the administrative and financial operations at PCC, overseeing bookkeeping, operational management, and organizational systems. My role bridges finance and operations to ensure smooth day-to-day processes and alignment with our mission and strategic goals.

Having experienced social inequity firsthand, I’m driven to bridge socioeconomic gaps and advance equity in higher education. Creating access and opportunity enables more students to succeed and use their education to pave the way for others.

I got here through six years in nonprofit education and over three years in private marketing, blending mission-driven experience with business insight and financial acumen. Integrating finance education with an MBA, I apply operational and financial skills to drive impact in education.

PCC is leading and collaborating on a variety of great research and policy efforts. I work to manage our research team’s completion of projects and identify areas for new or further research that drives forward PCC’s impact. Amplifying PCC’s work toward change, I see my role as also following our research through to policy implementation and analysis.

As an education practitioner, I’ve witnessed firsthand how our institutions and systems fall short for educators and more importantly, students despite the good intentions. I wanted to be part of transforming our system into one that prepares and supports students toward college completion. I am so passionate about education because I believe it is a nonnegotiable toward building more thriving communities across Illinois.

After years in student-facing roles, I realized I needed to add quantitative skills to my toolbelt to be part of the systems-change work I felt called to. I earned a master’s degree at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and subsequently gained hands-on experience in policy research at a community-based organization on the city’s west side. 

I assist the Research and Data team with researching evidence-based
practices and policies as well as help analyze state and institutional
data. I am also responsible for providing the CUP team insights that
can help our institutional partners narrow their completion
disparities by race and income.

I have always been passionate about education. I initially wanted to
be a math teacher, but seeing how systemic barriers in higher
education hindered many, especially low-income and minority students,
I want to utilize my research and data analysis skills to support work
that is focused on making higher education equitable for all.

My parents, who are immigrants from Mexico and have no college degree,
worked hard to provide their children the opportunity to pursue higher
education. I started my college journey at Saint Xavier University,
where I received my Bachelor’s in Mathematics. I then earned my
Master’s in Mathematics at Governors State University.

I lead community engagement efforts, coordinate the Student Advisory Council, and manage the Coalition for Transforming Higher Education Funding. I bring research to life, empowering communities and stakeholders to advocate for educational equity. I also assist the Research and Data team and support various Policy & Advocacy initiatives.

As a first-generation college student from Chicago, I’m passionate about ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality education. I do this job because I believe in creating equitable opportunities for students, particularly those from underserved communities, and working towards systemic change to help them succeed in higher education.

I earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Education from Wheaton College, a Master’s in Education from Lipscomb University, and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School. These experiences have shaped my passion for advocating for educational equity and supporting underserved communities.