Vanessa Peña, a doctoral candidate and alumna of the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA), has started a position as an education policy analyst with the Latino Policy Forum.
Peña, who previously earned a master’s degree from ELPA, has a background in K-12 and higher education policy.
Her profile on the Latino Policy Forum’s website notes that “she possesses a keen ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across different stakeholders for the goal of presenting sustainable educational policy change. After working in Wisconsin for almost a decade, she is excited for the opportunity to give back to her home state of Illinois and continue to push for sustainable educational change for Latinos and English Learners.”
The Latino Policy Forum utilizes advocacy and analysis to build a foundation for equity, justice, and economic prosperity for the Latino community. Its website notes how the organization catalyzes policy change to improve education outcomes, advocate for affordable housing, promote just immigration policies, and strengthen community leadership.