Vanessa Valdez Cruz

College Access PRogram Manager

Vanessa was born and raised in Los Angeles, where she attended East Los Angeles College before transferring to UCLA and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and double minor in Chicano Studies and Education. Her own experiences as a first-generation college student led to a passion for higher education accessibility, family services, and student advocacy.

She joined the BTSV team in 2022 as a Program and Tutoring Coordinator. In her current role as College Access Program Manager, she provides academic and holistic advising to a cohort of 9th and 10th grade students. She also supports BTSV’s high school programming, including field trips to college campuses, summer opportunity exploration, and workshops where students grow their professional skills. Over the summer, she is the Dean of Students for the 9th grade summer program.

Vanessa is always on the hunt for new coffee and matcha places to try. She also loves San José’s Mexican and Central American food scene and uses it for inspiration for her own cooking.

“As a first-gen college graduate and daughter of Mexican immigrant parents, I experienced firsthand the barriers BTSV students face and are learning how to navigate. During our 1:1 meetings and interactions, I find myself inspired and motivated by my students' resilience and voice. I enjoy seeing them be their authentic selves during our elective classes and finding a safe space with their friends at Breakthrough.
And of course, I loved going on the SoCal trip and seeing BTSV students on campus at UCLA!”