As a young girl, Elena Mendoza always knew she would attend college. It was the standard her parents set, and this expectation propelled her towards a successful career in education and leadership.
The youngest of four siblings, Mendoza’s family immigrated from Mexico to the United States before she was born. Education was important to the family, because Mendoza’s parents wanted each of their children to succeed. “We knew that part of our journey was to go to college, and I think a lot of that had to do with our parents coming to this country to ensure we would have a better future,” said Mendoza. “We were all very aware of that and the sacrifices they made.”
Those sacrifices and the unwavering support from her family propelled Mendoza toward a degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on elementary education, which she earned at University of Northern Colorado. This education paved the way for her to embark on a career in education, initially as a teacher in Westminster Public Schools and Brighton, where she later ascended to the role of assistant principal. However, after five years in this position, Mendoza felt a calling to support families in a different capacity, leading her to transition into the nonprofit sector.
Most recently, Mendoza accepted a position as Executive Director for the Latinas First Foundation. Today, the Latinas First Foundation provides scholarships, mentorship and networking opportunities for Latinas to reach their highest educational potential. The Latinas First Foundation also honors Latina Trailblazers and Unsung Heroes who have made a positive impact on the community and their respected industries.
“Navigating our education system, particularly our post-secondary, is very complicated, and I think there can never be enough resources there for families. Whether it’s navigating the systems or understanding the system,” said Mendoza. “That’s one of the things I appreciate about the foundation. We help with pieces of all of that — understanding our education system as well as giving that financial support for families that need a little extra boost.”
Regarding future goals for the Latinas First Foundation, Mendoza expressed her desire to see the organization maintain its support for Latinas not only as they enter college, but also throughout their academic journey.
In offering advice to young Latinas aspiring to leadership roles, Mendoza emphasizes the importance of recognizing that having a different leadership style is perfectly acceptable.
“Those leadership qualities, it’s who you are. It’s in you,” said Mendoza.
To learn more about the Latinas First Foundation and to offer financial contributions to the organization, visit latinasfirst.org.
“I heard someone say this, and it resonated with me that intelligence is equally distributed but access to resources is not. That’s the game changer and can change the trajectory of people’s careers,” said Mendoza. “That game changer is education. If we don’t have the same access to education or the same opportunities, it can change the trajectory of your life and potentially have affects on other generations.”
