Education was her path to the American dream. As a teen parent, she enrolled in community college and persevered to become the first in her family to earn a college degree, paving the way for other relatives.
At Cal State Fullerton, Karla completed her fourth degree — a doctorate in education — and awakened to social justice. Through her mentors and research on educational practices in post-apartheid South Africa, she was empowered to fight against marginalization and strive for equity and opportunity for all.
Today, Karla lives her purpose as a school counselor and founder of a nonprofit youth mentoring program, modeling resilience and championing an equitable future for all.
