Lucero Jimenez (she/her/ella) is the Retention Specialist for the HSI-STEM Avanzando Initiative. Lucero is the oldest daughter of Mexican immigrants and a first-generation college student. She grew up in the small town of Calistoga in the Napa Valley. After high school Lucero went to San Jose State University where she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a double minor in Mexican American Studies and Communication Studies. 

Being a part of the Upward Bound program in high school gave her the support and the courage to move away from home and be the first person in her family to go to a four-year university. While in college, Lucero was a part of EOP which helped her tremendously as she continued through her educational journey. Lucero’s experience learning to navigate higher education as a first-generation student, combined with the assistance she received from participating in student support programs made her realize the passion she has for supporting students who are from similar backgrounds. This inspired her to pursue her Master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of San Francisco. 

Lucero comes with over six years of professional experience working with first-generation, low-income and other marginalized students. She combines her personal values and experiences to advocate for access to higher education for underrepresented students to successfully complete their academic goals. She supports students’ persistence and retention through graduation and beyond by leading with authenticity to foster learning environments and build community with students. Lucero previously worked at Santa Rosa Junior College as an Advisor for the HOPE Program. After one year of working at SRJC Lucero went to work for the Upward Bound Programs at Sonoma State University for 5 years where she served as an Outreach Advisor, Director of Outreach Services and finally serving as the Assistant Director in her last year with the programs. While at Upward Bound she had the opportunity to support first-generation and low-income high school students in Sonoma County to prepare for college. As a daughter of immigrants, Lucero understands the big role that family plays in the motivation for pursuing higher education so she also likes to make sure she provides bicultural and bilingual support and information about college to families.  

Outside of work Lucero loves to travel, go to concerts, spend time with her family and friends.