Alumnae Accomplishments
HOPE Alumnae Accomplishments
Discover the Success Stories of HOPE’s Alumnae Month by Month
HOPE alumnae are breaking barriers in every industry and paving the way for more Latina leaders to make a difference, from public office to the corporate sector. Read more about our alumnae’s accomplishments and get inspired!
All Alumni Accomplishments
Irais Lopez – Ortega
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2020 - Re-elected to City Council of the City of Calistoga
Karina Quintanilla
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2015 - Re-elected to Palm Desert City Council, District 1
Ashley Fumiko Dominguez
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2021 - Named Senior Director of Federal Relations at University of California Los Angeles
Michelle Velasquez Bean
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2023 - Elected to the La Mirada City Council, District 2
Claudia L. Mercado, MBA
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2012 - Appointed by The Senate Rules committee to serve on the CA Board of Pharmacy
Leticia Munguia
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2007 - Ran for City of Chula Vista City Council, District 3
Sophia Carrillo
Latina Appointments Collaborative Member - Appointed by Governor Newsom as Assistant General Counsel of Enforcement at the California Environmental Protection Agency
Lupita Ley Hightower, PhD
HOPE Binational Fellow, 2024 - Appointed by Governor Katie Hobbs to the Arizona State Board of Education
Naomi Soto
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2018 - Elected to the Palm Springs City Council, Dist. 4
Natalia Alarcon
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2023 - Re-elected to the Carpinteria City Council, District 2
Teresa Acosta
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2003 - Re-elected to the Carlsbad City Council, District 4
Luz Herrera
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2004 - Ran for Judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County
Dr. Frances Marquez PhD
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2000 - Ran for Orange County Board of Supervisors, District 1
Belia Ramos
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2001 - Re-elected to Napa County Board of Supervisors, District 5
Nora Vargas
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2001 - Re-elected to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, District 1
Celeste Rodriguez
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2023 - Elected to the California State Assembly, District 43
Esmeralda Soria
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2013 - Re-elected to the California State Assembly, District 27
Sasha Renée Pérez
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2022 - Elected to the California State Senate, District 25
Monique Limon
HOPE Binational Fellow, 2019 - Re-elected to the California State Senate, District 19
Lena Gonzalez
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2013 - Re-elected to the California State Senate, District 33
Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar
HOPE Binational Fellow, 2024 - Re-elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, District 22
Eva-Dina Delgado
HOPE Binational Fellow, 2022 - Re-elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, District 3
Christine Hernandez
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2021 - Elected Trustee-Area 2 for Huntington Beach Union High School District, first Latina on the board
Adriana Martinez
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2003 - Released the book "Reclaiming Me: Lessons from a First-Generation Mexican Daughter”
Linda Castillo
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2021 - Appointed to the Library and Community Services Commission for Salinas
Dr. Rita Gallardo Good
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2008 - Sacramento Hispanic Chamber Legacy Latina Estrella Award recipient
Liz Atlee
1st Vice Chair of the HOPE Board - Appointed as Chair Person of the Board of Directors at Cyclum Renewables, LLC
Lizbeth Lopez
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2022 - Received the Latinx Leader Award from Chair Nora Vargas
Noerena Limón
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2024 - Named Casita Coalition’s New CEO
Dulce Vasquez
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2022 - Named part of The E-List Inaugural Group of Content Creators dedicated to amplifying voices of Democratic pro-choice women and advancing reproductive rights.
Andrea Vigil
HOPE Binational Fellow, 2023 - selected as Empowered Woman of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP)
Mary Ann Gomez Orta
HOPE Binational Advisory Board Member - Named a 2025 Presidential Leadership Scholar
Elizabeth Romero
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2015 - Appointed Board Member of the Inland Empire Community Foundation
Ruby Rose Yepez
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2022 - Named School Board Trustee at Valle Lindo School District
Dr. Erica L. Jacquez
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2002 - Appointed to the City of Long Beach Economic Development Commission
Quintilia Avila
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2024 - Appointed to the Riverside County Behavioral Health Commission & Named Senior Director of External Affairs for the Center for Caregiver Advancement (CCA)
Michele Siqueiros
Honorary HOPE Leadership Institute Alumna - Named the founding CEO of the L.A. Local News Initiative
Isuri S. Ramos
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2023 - Named Chispa's Interim Executive Director Dr. Erica Lyn Jacquez MPA DPPD
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2002 - Appointed to the City of Long Beach's economic development commission
Ivette Kuyateh, Esq.
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2016 - Assigned to draft the Judicial Benchguide for California Judges for the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act
Cristina Gomez Vidal
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2004 - accepted a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor position in the Department of Society, Environment, and Health Equity at the University of California, Riverside
Dora Westerlund
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2004 - Named California Woman of the Year by Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria
Norma Rojas-Mora
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2009 - appointed to the 15th District Agricultural Association, Kern County Fair Board (California)
Karla Sayles
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2022 - named Vice President, Local Public Affairs at Southern California Edison (SCE)
Quintilia Ávila, MPA
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2024 - named Senior Director of External Affairs at the Center for Caregiver Advancement
Ana Gonzalez Seda, MPH
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2022 -Named Center Director for the Braille Institute in San Diego
Vanessa Cajina
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2007 - Named partner at KP Public Affairs
Krystal Moreno
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2016 - named chief of staff to Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez
Jenilee Fermin
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2022 - named Legislative Director for Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez
Joana Reyes
HOPE College Leadership Program Class of 2018 - named District Director for Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez
Victoria Gomez
HOPE College Leadership Program Class of 2023 - named Director of Operations at NextGen Scholars for Change
Karla Vasquez Perez
2024 HOPE College Leadership Program, 2024-2026 Voyager Scholarship Recipient
Abigail Estrada
HOPE College Leadership Program, 2022 - Completed internships at the White House and Target
Monica Montano
HOPE Leadership Institute 2021 - Recipient of a Latinx Leader Award from San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas
Elsa Morales Roth
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2024 - Named one of San Diego Business Journal’s Latino Leaders of Influence 2024 and Recipient of a Latinx Leader Award from San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas
Griselda Ramirez
HOPE Leadership Institute 2019 - Promoted to Chief External Affairs Officer for San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas and named one of San Diego Business Journal’s Latino Leaders of Influence 2024
Ivette Kuyateh
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2016 - Named one of San Diego Business Journal’s Latino Leaders of Influence 2024
Stephanie James
HOPE Leadership Institute 2024 - Recipient of a Latinx Leader Award from San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas
Mabi Castro
HOPE Leadership Institute 2019 - Named Chief Impact Officer at Lifeline Community Services
Lourdes Castro Ramírez
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2004 - Selected as the next President & CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles
Cindy Pánuco
Latina History Day Committee Member - Sworn in as a Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court
Sarah Soto – Taylor
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2019 - Appointed Undersecretary of the Government Operations Agency by Governor Gavin Newsom
Lizeth Vega
HOPE College Leadership Program, Class of 2017 - Ran for re-election to the Board of Education, Alvord Unified School District
Sonia Lopez
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2016 - Re-elected to the Compton College Board of Trustees
Laura Casas
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 1999 - Re-elected to Foothill-De Anza Community College Board
Connie Perez Andreesen
HOPE Awards Dinner Planning Committee Member - Ran for Kern Community College District Governing Board, Area 7
Dr. Alma Castro
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2024 - Re-elected as Vice President of Lynwood Unified School Board
Josefina Canchola
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2001 - Elected Governing Board Member of the Whittier Union High School District, Trustee Area No. 3
Jocelyn Vargas
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 20 - Ran for Coachella Valley Unified School District, Dist. 4
Zuraya Tapia-Hadley
HOPE Binational Fellow, 2023 - Elected to Arlington School Board
Deborah Bautista Zavala
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2017 - Elected as Trustee of Yuba Community College District, Area 6
Leticia Vasquez Wilson
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2002 - Re-elected to the Central Basin Municipal Water District
Jeanette V. Flores
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2004 - Ran for Three Valleys Municipal Water Board District, Division II
Gaby Plascencia
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2013 - Ran for re-election to Riverside City Council, Ward 5
Rita Gallardo Good, EDD
HOPE Leadership Institute Class of 2008 - Appointed to the new Civil Service Employee Rights and Appeals Commission by the Long Beach City Council
Quirina Orozco
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2002 - Re-elected to West Sacramento City Council, District 2
Michele Siqueiros
Honorary HOPE Leadership Institute - Celebrating Michele Siqueiros's 16 years as president of Campaign for College Opportunity and 20 years of service overall.
Dr. Rebecca Rivera
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2006 - Newly appointed board-certified OBGYN at Adventist Health
Paula Amezola
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2017 - Honored with the Leader of the Year award for 2023-2024 by the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association (LACSTA)
Dr. Yasmin Davidds
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2000 - Released book “Graciously Assertive: How Becoming a Better Human Makes You a Better Leader
Sade Williams
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2023 - Named Director of South Valley, Go Public Schools
Elizabeth Seelman
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2008 - Promoted to Director of Corporate Public Affairs at Southern California Edison
Jessica Fernandez
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2022 - Promoted to Senior Manager, Government Relations, Orange County at Southern California Edison
Lizbeth Zepeda
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2023 - Started her own business as Founder and Fractional Sr. Talent Acquisition Consultant at LKE Fractional HR, Consulting and Coaching Services.
Nancy De Los Santos
Legacy HOPE Supporter - Debutted her film, "Say a Little Prayer"
Judge Lucy Armendariz
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2004 - Named to the State Bar Court Vetting Committee by the California Supreme Court
Chairwoman Nora Vargas
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2001 & HOPE Binational Fellowship, 2021 - Appointed Chair of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Immigration Reform Task Force
Norma Rojas-Mora
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2009 - Named Associate Vice Chancellor, Public Affairs and Development for Bakersfield College
Myriam Valdez Singh
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2019 - Appointed as the Legislative Director for the California Department of Financial Protections and Innovation
Dr. Jesse Garza Roderick
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2001 - Appointed to serve on San Joaquin’s Delta’s Governing Board
Jennifer Ramirez
HOPE College Leadership Program, Class of 2021 - Named Finance Budget Analyst for the California Department of Finance
Stella Premo
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2001 - Starting a new position as a Course Instructor at the College of Continuing Education (CCE) at Sacramento State
Edith Moreno
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2022 - Named new Governing Board Member for LA's Best
Leticia Corona
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2016 - Accepted into the UC Berkeley Executive MBA program
Natalia Alarcon
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2023 - Named Director of Programs at Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara
Marisa Aurora Quiroz
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2012 - 2024 Visionary Awards recipient of the Charles Nathanson Memorial Award for Cross-Border Region Building
Guadalupe Lazaro
HOPE College Leadership Program, Class 2020 - Appointed to the UCLA Latino Alumni Association Board of Directors as Co-Chair of Marketing
Darcie Green
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2021 - Sworn into Santa Clara County Race and Health Disparities Community Board
Victoria Gomez
HOPE College Leadership Program Class of ‘23, Future History Maker ‘23, & Summer ‘24 Research Intern - Selected to participate in The White House Hispanic Initiative Latino Leadership Program
Emily G. Esparza
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2023 - Newly named Board Members for Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley
Maria Espinoza
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2020 - Started a new position as Policy Director for the California Housing Consortium
IL State Rep Eva-Dinah Delgado
2022 HOPE Binational Fellow - Received the Bridge Builder Award from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Ramona Prieto
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2017 - Named to the Capitol Weekly's 2024 Top 100 List
Alicia Isaacs-Lee
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2013 - Named to the Capitol Weekly's 2024 Top 100 List
Larisa Cespedes
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2005 - Named to the Capitol Weekly's 2024 Top 100 List
Viviana Becerra
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2018 - Named to the Capitol Weekly's 2024 Top 100 List
Erika Contreras
HOPE Leadership Institute, 2011 - Named to the Capitol Weekly's 2024 Top 100 List
Gloria Cruz Cardenas
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2019 - Named Chief Impact Officer at The San Diego LGBT Community Center
Dora Beyer
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2023 - Named to Silicon Valley Business Journal's 2024 Class of 40 under 40 in California
Julissa Gutierrez
2023 HOPE Binational Fellow - Listed as one of New York's Top Latino Leaders by City & State New York
Andrea Vigil
2023 HOPE Binational Fellow - Accepted into the Fall 2024 WBENC Energy Executive Program (EEP)
Melina Duarte
HOPE Leadership Institute, Class of 2024 - Appointed as Political Director for California Teachers Association, New Board member of the Latino Prosperity, and New Chair for the UCI Latino Alumni Association
Amanda Farias
2024 HOPE Binational Fellow - Listed as New York's Top Latino Leaders at #1 by City & State New York
Mara Candelaria Reardon
2018 HOPE Binational Fellow - Named Senior Advisor at The White House Initiative on Educational and Economic Excellence for Hispanics
Sonja Diaz
Co-Founder, Latina Futures, 2050 Lab (LFL) and Founding Director Emeritus, UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI) - Honoring her Leadership and Legacy at the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute
Cathryn Rivera
Appointment Secretary, Office of Governor Newsom - Commending the Enduring Legacy of the Outgoing Appointments Secretary
Carleen Jimenez
Former HOPE Intern and HCLP Class of 2024 - Selected as an intern for the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute’s (CHLI) Global Leaders ProgramExplore our Alumnae Roster
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