Linda serves as SV2’s Chief Program & Advancement Officer, working closely with team members on SV2’s programming and fund development. As the daughter of immigrants who left México to give their children a better life, she grew up working in the agricultural fields of the central San Joaquin Valley in California. In second grade, her teacher was the first person Linda ever heard say the word “college.” Until that point in her life, she didn’t know anyone who had more than a sixth-grade level education. But like her parents, she too believed that education could break the cycle of poverty. A belief in education drove Linda to earn a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Stanford, a master’s degree in education from Harvard, and a Ph.D. in education from UT Austin. After a career in higher education, she returned to the Bay Area and transitioned to the nonprofit sector. Linda has over a decade of experience leading nonprofits most recently as the executive director of Upward Scholars, a former SV2 Grantee whose mission is to provide adult immigrants the boost they need to move up the economic ladder through education and career development support. Linda lives in Redwood City and is raising her son to be just as excited about learning, social justice, and service as she has always been. You can reach Linda at lprieto@sv2.org.