Karla Tirado (she/her)

Karla Tirado is the Programs Coordinator at UC San Diego’s Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies (USMEX) where she helps lead key initiatives such as the Visiting Fellows Program, the Summer Seminars program and the Center's annual U.S.-Mexico Forum. Her passion for fostering cross-border collaboration is rooted in her deep ties to the CaliBaja region where she strives to promote policy solutions that benefit both the U.S. and Mexico. 

Before joining USMEX, Karla served as a Community Representative for San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava and gained experience working with the County of San Diego Second and Fourth District offices, and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Her background in community outreach and constituent services reflects her commitment to public service and addressing the needs of the San Diego community.

Karla holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations and a minor in Human Rights and Migration from the University of California San Diego. In her free time she enjoys hiking along the San Diego coast and attending as many live concerts as she can.