In the Spotlight: Cristina Espino Leads with Purpose

She calls her leadership role in Notre Dame ACE Academies "the beginning of a lifelong mission to provide a Catholic education of the highest quality to as many children as possible." Meet Cristina Espino.

From a very early age, my parents and family reinforced the value of Catholic schooling and were committed to providing this opportunity, acknowledging and accepting the financial sacrifices it would entail. They understood that sharing similar cultural and religious values with my peers would allow me to thrive both personally and academically. At the parochial elementary school I attended and where my mother taught, I learned that Catholic learning institutions pride themselves on not only teaching practical knowledge but also instructing their students to align strategic priorities and become responsible leaders.

In high school, a time when teenagers generally struggle to find their path, my sense of belonging and purpose was clear at Holy Cross Academy. The small classrooms, rigorous classical curriculum, and mandatory prayer and meditation at chapel every morning allowed me to focus my energies in a positive manner, accomplish far more than imaginable, and mobilize the student body to do the same.

Social responsibility is an undeniable part of an education in the Catholic School system. During my time as a student at Our Lady's University I was an active participant and leader in the Building Bridges Mentoring Program. After completing the appropriate training and coursework, I enrolled in the Volunteer Tax Assistance Program, helping low income families prepare their federal tax returns on weekends....[M]y sense of community was strengthened by attending university sponsored Catholic retreats and agreeing to be an Encounter retreat leader.

[After completing a master's in business administration at Loyola University, my husband and I moved to Tampa.] I was eager to reinvent my career and lead with purpose. My new position [with Notre Dame ACE Academies] is a program level role responsible for the marketing and finance oversight of the ACE Academies – three schools in Tucson and two schools in Tampa. More specifically, I will work closely with Christian Dallavis, Ryan Clark, and our diocesan partners, to develop and implement advancement strategies in each of our partner communities - leading the ACE Academies' efforts to secure tax credit scholarships and recruit new students.

To learn more about Notre Dame ACE Academies, click here.