A dedicated educator for nearly two decades, Dr. Julissa Alcantar-Martinez served K-12 education in San Antonio and Houston in curriculum development, teaching, and administration. She is experienced in expanding partnerships to promote enrichment, dual-credit, and career-transition opportunities, as well as education for overage students. Over the course of her career she won numerous awards including Principal of the Year in Galena Park ISD,  the Excellence in Leadership Award from Houston ISD, the AASA Aspiring Women’s Leadership Program, and was a recipient of the The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation  Scholarship to attend the Women Leading Education Across Continents Conference in Rio de Janeiro.

More recently, Dr. Alcantar-Martinez has distinguished herself as a multiple-award recipient for her work in real estate, and, since 2020, she has supported college-readiness efforts and summer programs in her capacity as an international recruiter for La Universidad de Las Americas in Puebla, Mexico, her alma mater.

Based in Houston, Dr. Alcantar-Martinez holds a BA in International Relations from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio; an MA in Applied Linguistics from La Universidad de Las Americas in Puebla, Mexico; an MA in Educational Administration from St. Mary’s University; as well as a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lamar University. 

Dr. Alcantar- Martinez loves traveling and getting to know new places. She loves spending time with her family and swimming is her passion. She is an active member of the Pan American Roundtable of Houston and currently serves as the scholarship chair.

Dr. Alcantar-Martinez joined Texans Can’s Board of Trustees in 2023.