Karen Perez, Hacia Project Manager
Karen Perez is a former Hacia: Toward the University participant and now works as a Project Manager. As Project Manager, Karen works directly with the Hacia team members to develop workplans and manage progress through ongoing process of training, coaching, and supervision to achieve stated goals. She also does direct work with school administrators, educators and Hacia students and families to implement the Hacia curriculum.
Karen is originally from Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico and grew up in Albuquerque, NM. She graduated from the University of New Mexico as a first-generation college graduate, with a BA in Elementary Education and endorsement in Language Arts in December 2017. Karen enjoys advising and working with our community, she is very passionate and enjoys giving back to her community.
Office: 505-247-8559
“I am very honored to be part of Southwest Creations and Hacia Toward the University team. As a first-generation student I understand the life challenges other first-generation students and families face day by day. I enjoy coming to work every day knowing that I am making a change in our community. As well as helping other students like myself to be successful in school and in life.
Hacia has had a big impact in my life, it has challenged me to strive for my dreams. I remember the first family workshop I attended. My mom was very excited to learn about high school graduation requirements and the college enrollment process. She was very impressed that the workshop was bilingual, but mostly because there was several follow up after each workshop. After attending several workshops, and a one on one with my Hacia mentor Flor Lopez I applied to several colleges in New Mexico and decided that UNM was the better option for me. Thanks to Flor and the Hacia program I was able to enroll into college and graduate.”