Monica D. Cruz
AD 369

Monica Cruz has been working in the area of workforce development for ten years.  Her work began as a graduate student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, where she conducted extensive research in the area of welfare-to-work.  She transferred those skills in the policy arena as a legislative aide in the Texas Senate Committee for Health and Human Services and implemented a welfare-to-work program, funded by the Department of Labor, in the City of San Antonio.  Her most recent work has been working as a consultant for the Levi Strauss Foundation, where she has served as a public affairs liaison and advocate for displaced workers.  She has worked closely with adults who are limited English proficient and has closely monitored and studied the challenges they face accessing training and employment opportunities within the workforce development arena.   She has taught classes in Women & Policy, Texas and American Government at Northwest Vista College, Our Lady of the Lake University and now happily at the University of the Incarnate Word.