Current Position: 
Mateo is a Technical Assistance Manager and part of the Institutional Capacity team. He is responsible for supporting and implementing institutes, pláticas, webinars, and tools for institutional teams to support their transformational journeys to more intentionally serve Latino students. In addition, he supports the team’s initiatives in case management, informational methods, and strategies to assist institutions with improving access, retention, and completion of Latino students.

Past Experiences: 
Mateo has a variety of experiences related to education. During his undergraduate career, he worked as a Peer Financial Ambassador in the Office of Student Success. Then after receiving his B.S. in Political Communication, he joined the Office of Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and was exposed to education, small business, and transportation issues from a federal perspective. While completing his M.A. in Political Science, he was a communication coordinator and program coordinator for the Latino Education Institute at Worcester State University, during which he supported K-12 students and their families by co-developing various educational programming: community organizing, public speaking, and college and career readiness workshops.

Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia?
I do my best work when the people around me inspire me. As a first-generation Ecuadorian-American, my parents instilled in me that education is the great equalizer. Working with teams looking at education issues through an equity lens fuels me to do my part in serving Latino students.

How would you describe working at Excelencia?
At Excelencia, the concept of comunidad is not just a buzz word. Every day, as I step into the office or join virtual meetings, I am enveloped in a sense of warmth and belonging. This nurturing environment not only fosters a strong team spirit, but also instills in me the confidence to give my best every day.