Angélica is a Program Manager of College Completion Policy at TICAS. In this role, she helps lead efforts to advance policies and practices that equip students at both community colleges and four-year institutions with the tools and resources necessary to complete their degrees. Her work focuses on promoting evidence-based student support strategies that address the unique challenges faced by first-generation, low-income, and students of color.
As a first-generation daughter of Mexican immigrants, Angélica’s commitment to advancing racial and economic equity in higher education is both personal and professional. She collaborates with policymakers, institutional leaders, and advocates to ensure that state and federal investments align with initiatives that strengthen college persistence and completion, especially for Black and Latino students. Her approach is grounded in a commitment to building the capacity of colleges and universities to effectively support their diverse student populations.
Before joining TICAS, Angélica worked across the education and nonprofit sectors to strengthen student support systems for underserved communities. At the Philadelphia Education Fund’s McKinney Center for STEM Education, she designed and implemented professional development programs to help educators enhance their STEM curricula and better support students to explore STEM-related career paths impacting over 500 K–8 students in Philadelphia public schools. In the Greater San Diego area, she developed and led STEM and youth leadership programs through the YMCA, promoting academic engagement, college readiness, and empowerment among middle school students. She also contributed to policy and advocacy efforts at Children First (formerly Public Citizens for Children and Youth), advancing education-focused initiatives that addressed students’ basic needs as a critical foundation for academic success.
Originally from Palm Springs, California, Angélica holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Ethnic Studies from UC San Diego and a Master of Science in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently completing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management with a concentration in Education Policy at Drexel University, with anticipated completion in summer 2025. Her dissertation research explores how leaders at Hispanic-Serving Institutions engage with federal higher education policy to improve Latino student success.
