CBHA Board and Staff

Jorge is a dedicated policy advocate and government relations professional who has spent his career working to create meaningful, systemic change. As the first in his family to attend college, he began his academic journey at Hartnell Community College where he served as Vice President of the Associated Student body and was a founding member of the Central Coast Dream Team, before transferring to California State University, Sacramento, where he earned a bachelor's degree in government. His personal experience navigating higher education as a first-generation student fuels his commitment to breaking down barriers for underrepresented communities.

Throughout his career, Jorge has been at the forefront of policy initiatives that expand access to education, support vulnerable populations, and drive equity-focused reforms. While at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), Jorge was part of the team that successfully advocated for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study that exposed infrastructure gaps at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). In California, Jorge represented 172 HSIs in the state, advocating the prioritization of HSIs in state funding and institutional support.

Beyond higher education policy, Jorge has worked extensively on human rights and social justice issues. While with the International Rescue Committee, he advocated for survivors of human trafficking, helping to identify trafficking patterns and coordinate response efforts across 30 counties in California. At Stanford Sierra Youth and Families, he supported programs focused on child welfare, mental health services, and family reunification, working to ensure that young people received the care and support they needed to thrive.

As a DREAM Summer Alum and former Kaiser Permanente Fellow, Jorge has engaged in high-impact advocacy efforts that address immigration reform, healthcare access, criminal justice reform, and economic mobility. These experiences have strengthened his skills in stakeholder engagement, coalition-building, and legislative strategy, making him a trusted resource for policymakers, institutions, and community organizations alike.

Jorge has also led large-scale advocacy efforts, including HACU’s Capitol Forum, where he coordinated seven state delegations, facilitated meetings with congressional leaders, and co-led a student track that prepared young advocates to engage in policy discussions. His ability to translate complex legislation into actionable advocacy has empowered countless students and institutional leaders to push for meaningful policy change.

Jorge's experience across multiple policy areas and his work with diverse communities across California, fuels his commitment to ensuring that policies reflect the needs and voices of the communities they impact. Whether advocating for increased education funding, developing policies that support vulnerable populations, or building strategic partnerships, Jorge remains steadfast in his mission to create a more just and inclusive society.