Monica is a dedicated counselor and a first-generation college graduate with 22 years of experience in higher education, committed to supporting the Latinx community at NOVA. With a diverse background that includes roles as a flight attendant and experience at the University of Maryland System, Monica joined NOVA in 2006, focusing on helping students navigate their paths to higher education, particularly within the Latinx community.

Her passion for assisting undocumented students led her to advise the Dreamers Empowered student organization, serve as a scholar advisor for the Dream.us Scholarship program at NOVA and work with the Virginia Latino Higher Education Network (VALHEN) to help all Latinx students in Virginia. Currently, as a care counselor in the Office of Wellness and Mental Health, Monica provides crucial support and resources for student well-being, developing centralized information and outreach initiatives to enhance student awareness of available services.

Monica encourages our donors to support scholarships for undocumented students, emphasizing their resilience and potential: "I believe the plight of undocumented students is often misunderstood in the media, and many people don’t see the real stories behind these individuals. Over the years, working closely with these students, I've witnessed their passion, resilience, and determination to pursue the American dream the very reason their parents brought them to the United States. I urge donors to be open-minded when considering scholarships; if possible, please don’t exclude undocumented students from your contributions. They are here at NOVA because they are committed to bettering themselves and pursuing their dreams for the future, despite the challenges they face."

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