Marina Chavez grew up in Pasadena, Texas, where she discovered her passion for music, teaching, and supporting her Latino community. Marina graduated from San Jacinto College with an Associate's Degree in Music and pursued her career in Interdisciplinary Studies focused on teaching bilingual K-6th grade at the University of Houston Clear Lake.
Even though Marina loved to be with her elementary students, she wanted to continue to help first-generation and low-income students who wanted to pursue their college careers. Marina continued her education and graduated with her Master’s in Higher Education in 2024.
In 2025, Marina joined the Office of Access and Institutional Excellence as an Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives. She has been able to work with first-generation and low-income students in the Responsibility, Inclusion, and Self-Empowerment (RISE) program. She continues to be a mentor to incoming freshmen students who get the academic opportunity and resources before starting their fall experience. Additionally, Marina hopes to establish partnerships with community colleges in the Humanities sector to bring in more transfer students.