Meet Karla V. Salazar, ScholarMatch’s new Executive Director
The ScholarMatch Board of Directors is pleased to announce that after an extensive executive search, Ms. Karla V. Salazar has joined our team as our new Executive Director. Karla is an experienced bilingual leader in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.
Her passion and commitment to providing access to quality public education are deeply rooted in her upbringing. Her grandmother was an elementary teacher for 30 years in Nicaragua, and most of her family members are in the education field. Her life mission is to contribute to a more humane world by collaborating with visionary leaders, developing and implementing transformative ideas, strengthening organizations, and being of service to our communities. The guiding principle that drives and motivates Karla as a professional is her ability to empower, impact, and influence individuals and organizations towards a common good.
In the public sector, she worked as an Assistant Manager at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Los Angeles branch, Field Director in the California State Controller’s Executive Office, and as an Analyst at the City of Santa Monica’s Finance Department. Since 2010, she has collaborated with nonprofit organizations such as the California Community Foundation, Nonprofit Finance Fund, Board Treasurer, Interim CEO and COO for Families In Schools, and most recently as Interim CEO of Casa Treatment Center.
Karla’s professional experience is enhanced through her engagement as a volunteer with several community organizations since her undergraduate years at UCLA. She was part of the team that managed the first undergraduate student-run and student-led retention program, MEChA-Calmecac. She is a board member of the United States Selective Service System, Grand Performances, and continues to be involved in several community projects.
In 2013, she launched her financial and strategic management consulting work under SOS Strategies, partnering with nonprofit organizations interested in strengthening their organizational workflow and effectiveness in the areas of business planning, leadership transition, restructuring, governance, revenue model realignment, financial literacy, and training. Her collaborative work with nonprofits has led to directly providing financial management consulting services to more than 40 nonprofit organizations throughout California and managing the day-to-day operations, including business development, relationship management, staff management, and leading board meetings and advisory committees.
Karla earned a Master of Arts Degree in Public Policy from the Claremont Graduate University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with an emphasis in international relations and specialization in Chicana/Chicano Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. Ms. Salazar also completed the Executive Program in General Management at the University of California, Los Angeles, John E. Anderson School of Management.
Welcome to ScholarMatch, Karla!
