In high school, Valeria was introduced to an AP Biology teacher who changed her life. She says, “He was phenomenal. Anything you needed, he was always there and everyone in the school knew his name.” Valerie has since committed to carrying this same passion and purpose to the profession because she realized how impactful one person’s attitude can be to an entire student body.
Additionally, Valerie is a first-generation Hispanic woman who is passionate about advocating for women to enter STEM fields. More specifically, she is eager to illuminate the wonders of mathematics to middle school students in low-income communities.