Claudia was born in Mexico and came to Washington state at the age of 4 with her parents and siblings. Her family worked in agriculture following the crop seasons across the state.  Claudia’s parents stressed the importance of education for a better life. 

Claudia’s academic achievements include: 

• Bachelor’s in social service/Spanish at Central Washington University
• Master’s in social work through the Child Welfare Training and Advancement Program (CWTAP) at Eastern Washington University

She began her career in Children’s Administration in 1997 and has held a variety of positions including: 

• Intake worker
• CPS investigator
• CFWS worker, facilitator, and supervisor
• Area Administrator

Outside of work Claudia teaches future social workers at Heritage University. She’s married and has raised five children. She has 10 grandchildren in various locations which she enjoys greatly. In her down time, Claudia enjoys hiking and spending time with loved ones.