Vanesa Mercado Diaz

Vanesa Mercado Diaz, M.A., is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in research, advocacy, and evaluation, particularly in the fields of human rights and public policy. Currently serving as a Research and Evaluation Specialist at Esperanza United since September 2022, Vanesa previously worked as a Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Victim Advocate at CLUES. Vanesa's background includes roles such as a Graduate Researcher at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, a Women's Human Rights Program Researcher at The Advocates for Human Rights, and a Graduate Research Assistant at Building Broader Communities in the Americas. Additionally, Vanesa has experience in admissions counseling and mentoring at the University of Northern Colorado, as well as in youth program coordination at Northside Aztlan Community Center. Educational credentials include a Master of Arts in Human Rights & Public Policy from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Criminology from Colorado State University.