Jennifer Juárez, PhD

Dr. Jennifer Juárez is the Director of Higher Education Policy at the Latino Policy Forum. Jennifer was born in the South Side of Chicago, graduated from Chicago Public Schools, is fluent in Spanish, and is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. 

Jennifer earned a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). Her expertise and research focus on supporting undergraduate Latinx students, cultivating a sense of belonging, supporting academic success programs, and Hispanic Serving Institutions. 

In her previous leadership role at the Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services (LARES) program at UIC, Jennifer led recruitment and orientation initiatives for parents and students, co-chaired several UIC committees, and developed a training model for UIC Faculty and Staff on supporting and advising undocumented students. In addition, Jennifer formed part of various non-profit, higher education, and legislative committees in Illinois and the Pilsen, Little Village, Humboldt Park, Chicago Public Schools, and the Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE). She is also the founder of the first Latina Leadership Institute at UIC.

Jennifer is a recent Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation 2023 Leadership Academy Fellow. Due to Jennifer's commitment to undergraduate student success, she received the UIC Award of Merit and the Honoring Our Professors' Excellence (HOPE) Award. Jennifer is an Adjunct Professor at UIC in the Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) and Sociology department.

Contact Jennifer via email at jjuarez@latinopolicyforum.org