Monica Cuellar

Monica Cuellar, a Central Valley native, comes from a family of agricultural laborers who became organizers in the 1970s and were arrested alongside Dolores Huerta and Richard Chavez during a protest. These early experiences with activism inspired her lifelong commitment to education and advocacy. She earned a B.A. in English from UC Davis and a Master’s in Humanities, later teaching high school for 18 years with a focus on restorative practices and amplifying marginalized voices. Monica is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education at USC, concentrating on Community Leadership and Educational Change. She believes advocacy is about planting seeds of change and nurturing environments where all voices can thrive.