Associate Director
What I do:
Connie Calderón-Jensen is a dedicated education professional with over 30 years of experience championing higher education access for students from diverse backgrounds, including students of color, English-language learners, and those from immigrant families. Throughout her career, she has advocated for first-generation college students, collaborated with under-resourced school districts to develop educational programs that empower immigrant families to prepare their children for higher education, and supported post-baccalaureate learners at the UCSF School of Medicine.
Connie became the associate director of the Latinx Center of Excellence (LCOE) when it was founded in 2019 and has been instrumental in advancing the center's mission. As the leader of its HRSA programs, outreach efforts, and overall administration, she works closely with Dr. Fernandez to ensure the LCOE meets its stated goals, prepares staff for future careers, and establishes a solid framework for institutionalizing the LCOE at UCSF. She collaborates with numerous UCSF departments, community organizations, and academic programs to drive initiatives aimed at increasing the representation of Latinx physicians in California and across the nation.
Connie holds a Master’s degree in International Policy Studies and Spanish from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, CA, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a focus on Latin America from UC San Diego. Fluent in both Spanish and Italian, she developed a curiosity about the world around her, which led her to live in Italy, Mexico, Togo, and Hungary, where she participated in various study programs.
Outside of her professional life, Connie enjoys exploring ancient cultures, discovering hidden beaches along the Sea of Cortez (Baja California), and sailing with her husband and three teenage sons—experiences that keep her connected to the world’s diverse beauty and grounded in family.
Connie became the associate director of the Latinx Center of Excellence (LCOE) when it was founded in 2019 and has been instrumental in advancing the center's mission. As the leader of its HRSA programs, outreach efforts, and overall administration, she works closely with Dr. Fernandez to ensure the LCOE meets its stated goals, prepares staff for future careers, and establishes a solid framework for institutionalizing the LCOE at UCSF. She collaborates with numerous UCSF departments, community organizations, and academic programs to drive initiatives aimed at increasing the representation of Latinx physicians in California and across the nation.
Connie holds a Master’s degree in International Policy Studies and Spanish from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, CA, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a focus on Latin America from UC San Diego. Fluent in both Spanish and Italian, she developed a curiosity about the world around her, which led her to live in Italy, Mexico, Togo, and Hungary, where she participated in various study programs.
Outside of her professional life, Connie enjoys exploring ancient cultures, discovering hidden beaches along the Sea of Cortez (Baja California), and sailing with her husband and three teenage sons—experiences that keep her connected to the world’s diverse beauty and grounded in family.