Dr. Teresa Granillo
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Teresa Granillo is the Chief Executive Officer of AVANCE. As CEO, she sets the vision and strategic plan for the organization and provides guidance and oversight to daily operations. She engages key stakeholders and advocates and elevates the mission of AVANCE. A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Granillo earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and advanced degrees from the University of Michigan, including Master of Science degrees in Social Work and Psychology, and a dual Ph.D. in Social Work and Psychology.
Prior to AVANCE, Dr. Granillo served six years as Executive Director of Con Mi MADRE, another two-generation organization that supports young Latinas on the path to higher education. Before Con Mi MADRE, Dr. Granillo was a tenure-track professor at the University of Texas at Austin, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, where she received the Lora Lee Teaching Award.
Dr. Granillo is also active in her community, serving on the National Advisory Council for the Hogg Mental Health Foundation and the Board of Directors of UnidosUS. Driven by her personal experiences, she is a passionate advocate for education and the well-being of Latina/o children and families. Her leadership has been recognized in many arenas including being recognized with an Austin 40 Under 40 award. As a Latina raised by a single mother, Dr. Granillo knows firsthand how education can end the cycle of poverty and has dedicated her career to ensuring that all individuals have access to high-quality education.