Dr. Milagros Loreto is an associate professor at the University of Washington Bothell with a background in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science. A first-generation college graduate born in South America, she has a distinguished career in teaching and mentoring, particularly in optimization. After starting her career at the Universidad Central de Venezuela and Florida Memorial University, she joined UW Bothell in 2014 and was promoted to associate professor in 2020. She has received multiple honors for her teaching and mentorship, including the 2018 Chancellor’s Distinguished Undergraduate Research and Creative Practice Mentor Award and recognition at the 2019 Latinx Faculty Recognition Event. She is currently an active member of the NSF ADVANCE Partnership ASCEND project, focusing on supporting mid-career women in STEM and fostering diverse, inclusive institutional environments.