Dennise immigrated to the United States at age 12 and is the proud daughter of Mexican farmworkers. Her work in education and college access is deeply rooted in her own journey as an English learner, first-generation college graduate, and undocumented Latina.
Before joining DCAC/EAOP, Dennise led a college access program serving immigrant and refugee youth in Nashville, Tennessee, and worked in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at UC Merced. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about designing programs that recognize and build upon students' cultural wealth, lived experiences, and strengths.
Dennise holds a master's degree in Education from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and a bachelor's degree in Communications. Outside of work, you'll likely find her exploring the outdoors, trying out new coffee shops, or listening to a podcast. Her two greatest weaknesses? Her mom's cooking and cheap flights.