Jennifer Torres serves as an Alliance Engagement Director for Complete College America (CCA). She joins CCA from Educate Texas, where she was the Deputy Director of Higher Education. In this role, she played a pivotal part in cultivating a dynamic coalition of Texas college access leaders dedicated to transforming the landscape of college advising and enrollment through the Texas College Access Network (TxCAN). Jennifer led statewide professional development initiatives, strengthened collaborative efforts, and oversaw TxCAN’s communications, ensuring college access practitioners across Texas had the resources and insights needed to support students effectively.
With over eight years of experience in college access, Jennifer has made a meaningful impact both locally and statewide. She began her college access career as the Program Specialist for Southern Methodist University’s College Knowledge program, providing comprehensive college and career guidance to students, organizing campus and community programs, and leading district-wide initiatives aimed at fostering college and career readiness.
Before transitioning into college access, Jennifer spent several years in teacher professional development. At the SMU Center for Child and Community Development, she supported educators working with English language learners (ELLs) by coordinating multidistrict initiatives, facilitating professional development opportunities, and contributing to ELL research. Her work included organizing the annual Dual Language Institute in Guatemala, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and educator training on a global scale.
A proud first-generation college graduate, Jennifer was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. She is a McNair Scholar and a sister of Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority, Inc. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human rights and public policy and a master’s degree in dispute resolution and conflict management from Southern Methodist University.