Manuela is the Director of Talent at Transcend, working to implement recruitment efforts, strengthen teammate onboarding, and help support, grow and develop a diverse, inclusive world-class team. 

She began her career in education as a second and third-grade math and science teacher in Dallas, Texas. Manuela then transitioned to Teach For America’s recruitment team recruiting from various universities and AmeriCorps programs. Before joining Transcend, Manuela was a Senior Talent Manager with E.L. Haynes Public Charter School, a high-performing public charter school in Washington, D.C. 

Manuela holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Delaware, an M.Ed in Bilingual Education from Southern Methodist University, and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Manuela is a proud Colombian-American and currently lives in Washington, D.C., with her partner and dog, Blizzard. In her spare time, Manuela enjoys true-crime podcasts, reading, exploring new running routes, and drinking all the coffee.