Carla Cortes

Carla is thrilled to be part of ReUp and engage with college partners to support returning students. She brings over fifteen years of higher education experience in change management and project-based student retention and student success efforts. As a lifelong learner, she brings curiosity and motivation to seek shared solutions that benefit both institutions and students. Carla values collaborative analysis that leads to innovation for student success and meeting institutional goals.

Carla seeks insights about how we, as educators, design inclusive and effective opportunities for the broadest segment of learners. She believes in creating learning environments focused on elevating individual strengths and advancing personal goals as students discover what is possible.  As the daughter of an immigrant from South America, she has lived the transformation that education brings to individuals and entire families.

Carla holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame in Government.  She has an MA in Public Policy Studies from the University of Chicago and an MS in Higher Education Administration & Policy from Northwestern University. She is a Gallup-trained strengths coach.

Carla loves to read and appreciates every opportunity to be outdoors, hiking or biking with family and friends.