Charo Bates joined Veterans Education Success in September 2022 as the Director of Civic Engagement, focusing on helping veterans and their families share their voices to make positive change within higher education. She brings a decade of experience working for government contractors to provide support for veterans and their families, including diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Prior to her current role, Charo served as a Policy and Social Impact Fellow with Blue Star Families, working towards empowering military families to thrive by connecting them with their civilian neighbors to create strong communities of support. Previously, she worked for several government contractors providing the military with support on project management, case management for wounded warriors, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Charo has a bachelor’s degree in political science and legal studies, a master’s degree in business administration and marketing, and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Charo is also pursuing a doctoral degree in law and public policy at Northeastern University.
She lives in Camp LeJeune, NC, with her husband, who serves on active duty in the Marine Corps, and their two children.