Luis R. Oquendo is a dedicated professional with over 27 years of experience in education, social services, and community engagement. Before working with families, Luis spent nearly six years in Corporate Staffing and University Relations at Cigna Corporation. After leaving corporate America, he sought to apply his knowledge and skills to make a meaningful contribution, which led him to work with grassroots organizations such as ASPIRA, Inc. of Pennsylvania, Congreso De Latinos Unidos, and Norris Square Civic Alliance. Luis then transitioned to the School District of Philadelphia, where he served for over 22 years.
During his tenure with the School District of Philadelphia, Luis held various roles, including Community Builder (Title I Federal Funds Compliance), Ombudsman, School Improvement Support Liaison, and Bilingual Counseling Assistant with the Multilingual Support Unit. His roles have consistently been service-oriented, focused on supporting children, families, and staff. This support often included training, counseling, mentoring, coaching, evaluating, and professional development. Luis also has extensive experience as an interpreter, having volunteered at community law clinics and events, and worked as a professional educational interpreter for the School District of Philadelphia. To enhance his ability to support families, he studied at Lakeside Global Institute, becoming a Trauma Competent Professional, and completed the “Train the Trainer” series to expand his expertise further.
Luis is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Social Science with a concentration in Psychology at Great Basin College, part of the University of Nevada, Reno. He is expected to graduate in December 2025.