Nubia Esparza

What is your job title, and what will you be doing?

  • I'm the new Operations Manager for MNCWTA and CASCW. My primary responsibilities are to oversee the day-to-day administrative operations for MNCWTA and CASCW, including supporting leadership, budget, human resources, etc. 

Tell us about your education and/or work experience prior to joining the MNCWTA.

  • For the last year or so, I was the Executive Assistant/Chief of Staff/Operations Coordinator at Academia Cesar Chavez, a K-8 charter school in Saint Paul. Prior to that, I worked at the UMN Law School for 10 years in student programming, orientation, and DEI. I'm a double Gopher, receiving my BA in Chicano Studies and my MPP in Public Policy. I am currently in the last phases of my EdD at Hamline University. I'm hoping to finish that up next spring/summer.

How long have you been working in your field?

  • I've worked in various different areas of higher education for about 20 years.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

  • Because I've held various different roles throughout my career, I've learned that I really enjoy creating relationships and working on ensuring that our processes are functional.

What are you most passionate about professionally?

  • I'm passionate about learning how to be a good leader and using my skills toward my unit's mission and goals.

What are you most passionate about personally?

  • So many things! I'm a huge soccer fan, particularly Women's soccer (I'm a community owner of MN Aurora FC, the semi-professional team and was featured in one of their promotional videos). 

What are you surprisingly good at? (or what do you wish you were good at)?

  • I have a really good memory when it comes to random facts, so my family gets upset when we play a trivia game and I know the answers to questions they know nothing about.

What do you like to do outside of work?

  • I'm a mom to three busy kiddos. My oldest is a junior at Hamline, so I enjoy spending time with her when she's available. My middle is a senior in high school and is a serious athlete, so I'm either running to watch her play soccer or softball somewhere. My youngest has just started to take up playing soccer. I also love to read, watch good TV, and just relax.

What else should we know about you?

  • I'm fluently bilingual in English and Spanish (Spanish was actually my first spoken language). I've taught classes in the Chicano Studies department and last year, taught my first high school class.