Monica Cruz, Ph.D. earned her doctorate in Applied Demography at UTSA and her master’s degree at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin. She currently serves as the State Data Center Lead for the Texas Demographic Center, where she is a liaison for state and local governmental units regarding demographic-related research. She has worked as a legislative aide for the Texas Senate, as a program director for the City of San Antonio, and with other non-profit organizations as a policy analyst and researcher.

Prior to pursuing doctoral studies, Cruz served as Assistant Director of the McNair Scholar’s Program at St. Mary’s University and as Director of the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership at the University of the Incarnate Word.