Our Team

Natalie brings 25+ years of corporate sales and marketing experience including sales management, business development, and program management success. Additionally, she has 15+ years of non-profit volunteer and leadership experience. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) ~ Silicon Valley, an organization working to advance philanthropy through education, advocacy, research, and certification programs. Natalie is also the immediate past president and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Ivy & Pearls Foundation, a community organization focused on promoting academic excellence, health and wellness, economic empowerment and social justice in communities of color. Her leadership responsibilities include driving strategy, overseeing financial wellness, and managing relationships with external stakeholders and partners. She plays a major role in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major individual donors, corporate, and/or foundation gifts.

Natalie’s true passion lies in community engagement work and in making a difference in the lives of our next generation. She is an active volunteer and mentor for Oakland Promise and Year Up and is committed to uplifting young adults and advancing educational equity. Raised in East Palo Alto, California, Natalie is a first-generation college graduate who earned her B.A. in Economics at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.

Denise Villamil joined PCF after 20 years in program design/evaluation, relationship building, and management development within the corporate and non-profit sectors. She has held numerous executive roles in her career in both the technology and biotech sectors. She has also been an accomplished entrepreneur of two successful start-up companies. Throughout Denise's career, she has had the opportunity to mentor young professionals both in the US and abroad in the area of professional development. As one of the first in her family to go to college, she understands the impact that higher education and career-readiness has on employment opportunities. Denise was drawn to the PCF mission because of her passion for changing the equality of equity challenges that restrict underserved communities from securing meaningful careers. As such, she was excited to join the PCF team to start a new department within the organization focused on providing robust career advisory services and training programs that address the unique workforce readiness needs that first-generation college students face in today’s marketplace.

Denise graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Business Management from National University. As a native Californian and sports enthusiast she enjoys being in an area where she has local access to the coast and the mountains. In her off hours, Denise can be found spending time with family and friends, traveling, skiing, and giving back to the community through volunteering her time, treasure and talents to various non-profit organizations.

Chloriza Avila was born and raised in Lathrop, CA. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and double minor in Ethnic Studies and Education from UC Davis. While at UC Davis she worked with BRIDGE: Pilipinx Outreach and Retention as a Community Youth Development coordinator. In this role, she worked with and created curriculum for first-generation, low-income, and historically underserved youth to promote cultural awareness and accessibility to higher education. Chloriza has always had passion for working with students and is excited to support PCF scholars in embracing their unique identities and seeing themselves as vessels of change. In her future, she hopes to continue to bridge the opportunity gap and support marginalized youth and families in their personal and professional endeavors.

Chloriza also enjoys conversations about mental health and social justice. When she isn’t working, you can find her trying new food places, de-stressing at the gym, or traveling!

Graciela graduated with a Summa Cum Laude distinction from San Jose State with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Graciela’s experience includes a teaching role at ACE Charter School and working as a Program Coordinator for the Center on Poverty and Inequality at Stanford University.

As a proud Mexican immigrant, first-generation college student and her experience in working with underrepresented communities, I have no doubt that she will excel in her role as the Career Services Program Coordinator. Graciela is extremely passionate about “paying it forward” to enable students from marginalized communities navigate the inequitable systems they face.

Martha was born and raised in Newark, CA and is a first-generation college student. She attended De Anza College and obtained her Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts with an emphasis on Social Science and Behavioral Sciences. Having worked while in school allowed Martha to climb the career ladder at a young age. Her job offered her amazing opportunities with potential for growth, but she knew she would face a glass ceiling and obtaining a four-year degree would be able to break it.

Martha moved to Los Angeles to attend California State University, Northridge and majored in Communication Studies. While at CSUN, she focused her studies on the intersectionality of communication in human relations, cultural studies, social justice, training and development. Due to her own story, Martha is passionate about career development, specifically for first-generation scholars. She enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures.

Eduardo was born in Redwood City, CA but moved to Hayward, CA when he was five years old. Being a Hayward Made student, Eduardo completed his entire education in Hayward. Eduardo obtained his AA in Communication Studies from Chabot College in the Spring of 2017 and recently graduated from California State University, East Bay with his BA in Ethnic Studies with a concentration in Latinx and Chicanx Studies. During his educational journey, Eduardo worked with the TRIO Educational Talent Search Program at Chabot College and Hayward Promise Neighborhood at CSU East Bay as a Program Facilitator and Promise Intern. In these roles, he focused on being a mentor for first-generation, low-income, and multiracial students and families. His passion is to continue working with students and families from around his community. In his free time, Eduardo enjoys adventurous car rides and getting lost on the road with good music playing.

Before going to college Julia always had this idea of going into education, but originally was on the path to becoming a teacher. However, it was not until she stepped foot on campus predominantly white institution that she realized she needed a community if she was going to continue higher education. Once Julia found her community in the Ethnic Studies department and family within her multicultural sorority, she realized that that was what she needed to get her through college. She needed the mentorship, support and confidence that both of these communities provided. Julia double majored and earned her B.A. in Comparative Ethnic Studies and a B.A. in History, from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo because she wanted to give back to those who were first-generation college students like herself. Julia entered the nonprofit community as an intern for the Community Roots Project in San Luis Obispo where she realized she could be both part of a nonprofit and help with education together in her professional career.

Cara Magliaro joins PCF in Community Outreach and Engagement with more than 15 years experience as an innovative educator, leader, and community volunteer working for organizations dedicated to youth development and educational technology.

As a first-generation college student and passionate educational advocate, Cara graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Education and connects deeply to PCF’s mission and values.

Outside of PCF, Cara stays busy raising her three kids, two dogs, and three chickens and is greatly looking forward to traveling again.

Marinez has a passion for helping underserved communities by providing resources, creating connections, delivering support, and engaging in advocacy. Marinez is committed to helping others receive the adequate education, skills, knowledge, and support necessary to thrive in today’s economy.

Previous to working at The Peninsula College Fund, Marinez served as an Operations and Policy Coordinator at CA EDGE Coalition, where she supported the organization in advancing its mission through advocacy work focused on workforce development and higher education issues. Prior to EDGE, Marinez worked with students at the Dreamer Resource Center at California State University, Sacramento. As a Program Assistant, she provided resources to students of undocumented and mixed-status backgrounds as she helped them pursue their goals in higher education.

Marinez is also highly engaged within her community in the Bay Area. Marinez has become a strong advocate for Latinos in Silicon Valley through her involvement with the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley and the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley. Marinez also serves as a board member for Catalino Tapia Scholarship Foundation as well as MetroED Foundation.

Marinez is a proud daughter of immigrants and values her Mexican heritage. Born and raised in the Central Valley, she experienced the various financial and educational barriers others in her community face. Today, she is driven to give back to her community by increasing access to high-quality education and opportunities to thrive in the economy.

Marinez received her BA in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Public Relations at California State University, Sacramento.

Samantha Wenzel is a Bay Area native, raised in the North Bay. For 12 years she has worked with Bay Area students as a mentor, coach, and teacher. Samantha graduated from Santa Clara University with a BA in Communication in 2016. Her maternal family settled in San José when they first arrived in the U.S. from Mexico, and she is committed to serving the community in which her roots are planted. Her passion around education system reform has led her to dedicate her career to serving organizations that provide the necessary support needed for underserved students to succeed in a system that was not created for them to thrive in. With her experience in working with first-generation students in both the high school and college setting, she aims to utilize her role as Career Services Program Coordinator to support PCF scholars in their pursuit of a career aligned with their dreams and sense of purpose.