Lucila Loera

Office for Access & Opportunity

Lucila (Luci) Loera serves as Executive Director of the Office for Access & Opportunity within Washington State University’s Division of Student Affairs. A dedicated Student Affairs practitioner for more than 27 years, she has held multiple leadership roles focused on expanding access and improving student success.

Luci’s work is grounded in a deep understanding of the barriers and opportunities that shape college access, particularly for students from low-income, first-generation, and minoritized backgrounds. She has led major initiatives addressing food and basic needs insecurity, first-generation student engagement, diversity and inclusion, and strengths-based education. Over her career, she has secured millions of dollars in grants and external funding to enhance resources and support services.

Her commitment to removing barriers in higher education stems from her own early educational experiences, fueling her passion for creating supportive, affirming environments where all students can thrive. Luci has also contributed to professional leadership as past President of the Northwest Association of Educational Opportunity Programs (NAEOP) and as a board member for the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and the WSU Alumni Association.

She earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Washington State University and a bachelor’s degree in social ecology from the University of California, Irvine. Dedicated to advancing knowledge in the field, she is currently pursuing a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Colorado State University. Originally from Southern California, Luci has called Pullman home for more than 29 years. She shares her life with her husband, Raymond, their son, Ramon, and their dog, Mojito.