Paula Espinoza is a recently retired clinical associate professor of ethnic studies from the University of Colorado –Denver (UCD). She also previously held a secondary appointment in Community Behavioral Health at the Colorado School of Public Health, and was the Director for Health Research at UCD’s Latino/a Research & Policy Center. She received her PhD in sociocultural psychology from the University of Colorado-Boulder.  Her career training includes completing a National Cancer Institute post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Texas School of Public Health-Houston, completing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Regional Institute for Health and Environmental Leadership, and receiving the distinction of Health Disparities Scholar by the National Institute on Minority Health & Health Disparities.  Her past volunteer work in Colorado includes serving as the former Chair of the Colorado Cancer Coalition, serving on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program Advisory Board, the Colorado Cancer, Cardiovascular and Chronic Pulmonary Disease Grant Program Review Committee, and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure grant review committee. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, she grew up all over the U.S. as a proud Marine Corps “brat.” She’s lived in Colorado for over 30 years and is honored to serve as a Commissioner for this important work.