CAMP Staff

Maria Andrade,  Director

Maria De Los Angeles Andrade was born in Zacatecas Mexico as the second oldest child. Her parents, also born in Zacatecas, chose to move to  to pursue the “American Dream” settling down in Sweet Home, Oregon. Growing up Maria knew she wanted to make her parents hard decision of moving to a new country worth it. Knowing nothing about higher education, Maria knew she had to do well in school and applied herself. She graduated as salutatorian in 2001 and applied to Oregon State University. Being the first to go to college, Maria had to learn a lot and navigate higher education on her own including paying her own way through college. She graduated from Oregon State with her Bachelors in Business Administration: Accounting in March 2006 and began her work with CAMP in October 2006. After working for many years and focusing on being an mother to her three children Joaquin, Alejandro, and Elena, Maria chose to continue her education. She graduated with her Master of Business Administration: Business Analytics from Southern Oregon University in August 2021 which opened the door to move up in the program and become CAMP Director in November 2021. As the Administrative Assistant of the Program for 14 years, Maria has supported countless CAMP students in completing their degree. As CAMP Director she continues to show her passion for supporting farmworking students and families in all she does. Maria also coordinates the Migrant Summer Programs hosted at Oregon State University for high school students with agricultural farmworking backgrounds. This is a big passion as Maria is able to work with not only students, but also with parents and families in guiding them through higher education. Most recently in July 2021, Maria was nominated as the Treasurer for the National HEP CAMP Association working with over 100 HEP and CAMP Programs throught the nation.

"Being able to serve the migrant/latino community is such a blessing. I am very fortunate to be able to connect with so many student and families and see the impact one conversation about higher educaiton can have on not just a student, but the whole family." - Maria

Alexsandra Cortés,  Academic Counselor

Alexsandra Cortés was born in Brazil where most of her family of nine was born. Her dad a native Brazilian and her mom a descendant of Russian immigrants, made the hard decision to migrate to the United States in 1995 due to the poverty they were facing and the hopes of a better life. Already having family in Oregon, the family settled in the small town of Gervais. Alexsandra is the fifth child of nine and the first to go and graduate college. Do to her Russian orthodox upbringing; education was not a high value especially for women. Instead of getting married and having children like most, Alexsandra pushed the boundaries to pursue her dream to continue her education. Moving away from home to Oregon State University (OSU) was one of the biggest challenges and therefore, Alexsandra lost a lot of family support for a couple years. Though she faced these challenges being at OSU and in CAMP her first year, with all the support from the staff and mentors, she made it to the other side. During her time in undergrad, Alexsandra was a mentor for CAMP for two years. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences, with a double minor is Psychology and Spanish. Alexsandra grew a passion for supporting students like herself, which led to a master’s program at OSU in the College Student Services Administration (CSSA), with a specialization in underrepresented students. During her time in CSSA, she got the opportunity to intern with CAMP. As Alexsandra was getting ready to graduate in June 2016 with her M.ED. She was offered a one-year position with CAMP as the retention specialist. As her one year ended, the position for the CAMP Academic Counselor opened up and she jumped right on it.  Outside of CAMP, Alexsandra is married to her CAMP sweet heart Emanuel and they have a one year old son Alexsander Emanuel, as well as an Alaskan Malamute named Storm.

“I am so honored to be giving back to CAMP because they have done so much for me academically, personally and professionally. I truly love my job!”- Alexsandra