Dr. Mariluz Garcia is a first-generation college student who was born and raised in Elko, Nevada. Her father is from the Basque Country and her mother is from Mexico. After high school, she moved to Reno to attend the University of Nevada, Reno where she earned all three of her college degrees. Dr. Garcia has more than 20 years' experience working with low-income, first-generation students in a variety of settings. She was an Americorps volunteer in Colorado, a graduate assistant for the Dean’s Future Scholars program, a middle school counselor at Dilworth STEM Academy, an elementary school counselor at Glenn Duncan STEM Academy, and has served as the Executive Director of the Dean’s Future Scholars program for over ten years. In 2021, Dr. Garcia received statewide recognition for her work when Dean's Future Scholars was allocated 4-million dollars from Senate Bill 461 and she founded the Nevada First-Gen Network in 2022 to help prospective first-generation college students in grade 6 or higher who were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the State of Nevada. Outside of work, Dr. Garcia is passionate about giving back to the community and has served as a non-profit board member for the Education Alliance of Washoe County, Sierra Nevada Journeys, and the Children’s Cabinet.  Dr. Garcia has been recognized for her contributions in the field of education and in the community with awards from the Nevada Latino Alumni Chapter, the City of Reno, the Nevada Women’s Fund, the Nevada State of Education Association, the Young Professionals Network, the College of Education & Human Development.  In 2022, Dr. Garcia became the first Latina elected to the Washoe County Commission where she proudly represents District 3, which serves 100,000 constituents who live in Reno, Sparks, and Sun Valley. Dr. Garcia enjoys spending time outdoors with her two children.