Vanessa Lopez Morales

Vanessa Lopez-Morales is the Site Director at Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA), a role she has held since 2022. In this position, she oversees student support programs, fosters community partnerships, and leads staff development at Hamilton High School. Her vision is to build stronger school–community connections and improve student outcomes. Since stepping into this role, she has contributed to the Summer Bridge Program and implemented social–emotional learning groups.

Before her current position, Vanessa served as a Case Manager for Safe Place for Youth, where she supported transitional-aged youth with housing resources. Prior to joining CISLA, she worked at the Los Angeles Film School in Accounts Receivable and Financial Aid, gaining valuable experience in student support services. Her professional journey has always been grounded in the belief that every student deserves a supportive, nurturing environment in which to thrive—an outlook that aligns closely with CISLA’s mission to surround students with a community of support.

Vanessa earned her B.A. in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies from UC Santa Cruz and her Master’s in Social Work from USC, with an emphasis in Social Change and Innovation. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and hiking, which bring creativity and balance to her life.