Reina Garcia
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School ‘07 (Chicago)
Georgetown University ‘11
Northwestern University ‘14
Director of College Counseling, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Chicago)
Across our Network, more than 100 Cristo Rey alumni are now working in a variety of positions at Cristo Rey schools. After completing her undergraduate studies at Georgetown, Reina earned her Master’s degree in Education and Social Policy at Northwestern while serving as a teacher for the Archdiocese of Chicago. She then moved into college access and success roles for the Noble Network of Charter Schools for six years before joining the team at her alma mater, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, our Network’s flagship school in Chicago.
Reina shared her story at our 2024 Summit on College Success:
“Growing up in Little Village, or La Villita, as it’s known to locals, I was immersed in a vibrant immigrant community on the southwest side of Chicago. La Villita is full of entrepreneurial spirit, with family-owned businesses. It’s a neighborhood where culture is alive! However, despite its vibrancy, La Villita has its challenges. Gang violence and limited opportunities make it a tough place to grow up.
My family story is rooted here. I’m the daughter of Mexican immigrants and the oldest of three sisters. As the eldest, I was the trailblazer for my parents. When it was time for high school, my parents sought out the best opportunities, which led me to graduate in 2007 from Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Pilsen, Chicago, as part of the 10th graduating class. Since then, my two younger sisters and five cousins have also graduated from Cristo Rey Jesuit, and my cousin’s daughter started this fall. Cristo Rey has been transformative not only for me, but my family and community.
Fast-forward to college. After graduating from high school, I attended one of the Network’s University partner schools–Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. At the time, the partnership was still in its early stages, yet thriving, largely due to Dr. Daniel Porterfield, who was Georgetown’s Vice President for Strategic Development.
Georgetown is located in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the country, and many of its students come from affluent backgrounds. Transitioning from La Villita to Georgetown was a culture shock for me. I struggled with imposter syndrome and homesickness. But thanks to Dr. Porterfield and opportunities like the Georgetown Scholarship Program and the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access, I felt welcomed, celebrated, and safe—a vital sentiment for a first generation college student like myself and many Cristo Rey graduates.
"My college experience changed my life, and returning to Cristo Rey was a no-brainer. I want to continue celebrating our students, families, and alumni while pushing us all to grow, learn, and excel.”
Working alongside Dr. Porterfield throughout my college career and witnessing his commitment to supporting Cristo Rey alums was incredible. He constantly reminded us how special Cristo Rey is. His unwavering belief in me helped me realize that Georgetown was just as lucky to have me on campus as I was to have the opportunity to be a Hoya.
One of the most memorable moments was when Dr. Porterfield invited my family to the President’s Dinner during graduation weekend. My dad’s initial reaction was not to attend. “What do I have in common with all those people?” he asked. I listed his accomplishments, like how he left his home in Mexico at 14 years old, navigating a new country and language to support his family, and having made countless sacrifices to create opportunities for me and my sisters. With many tears and hugs, my parents attended the dinner. And later that weekend, this girl from Little Village proudly walked across the stage to receive her degree from one of the most prestigious universities in the country. The Georgetown-Cristo Rey partnership was instrumental in my journey, and its impact on my family continues today.
Fast forward once more, and I’m now the Director of College Counseling at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, a role I’ve held since July 2020. My college experience changed my life, and returning to Cristo Rey was a no brainer. I want to continue celebrating our students, families, and alumni while pushing us all to grow, learn, and excel.”