Ana Valenzuela

Biography

Ana Valenzuela was born and raised in Nogales, Arizona. After graduating at the age of 16 from Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Nogales, she took a position helping to run the pilot program for Head Start. After marrying, she moved to Tucson, where she was employed at Pima Community College. While there, Valenzuela worked her way up several offices and divisions, ultimately becoming special assistant to the college president. During her time at Pima, she became involved in the Chicano/a Movement, working with a theater group to educate the Latinx community about public health issues, particularly HIV/AIDS. Pima College was also the place where Valenzuela was introduced to the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Over the years, she rose to prominence taking on numerous leadership roles in LULAC, particularly in areas related to youth, women, education, and, most recently, the elderly.