Valerie-Alicia Padilla

I currently work at Los Alamos Wellness and Rehabilitation as a Receptionist, where I provide front desk reception and administrative support in a fast-paced healthcare environment. My responsibilities include greeting and assisting visitors, managing phone calls and emails, scheduling patient appointments, and maintaining organized records through accurate data entry and filing. I also scan and upload important medical and administrative documents, ensuring they are properly stored and accessible within the system. In this role, I contribute to the overall efficiency and professionalism of the office, while delivering excellent customer service to clients and staff.

• At United Way of Northern New Mexico, I began as an intern specializing in youth peer support, where I provided mentorship and helped facilitate safe, inclusive spaces for young individuals navigating personal and social challenges. My strong work ethic and initiative led to a promotion to Office Assistant, where I worked closely with leadership across various nonprofit functions. In this role, I contributed to the development of a new youth center, assisting with everything from general maintenance and setup to organizing and promoting community outreach initiatives. I played a key role in planning and executing events, managing logistics such as creating detailed spreadsheets, tracking participation, and ensuring successful follow-through. My ability to wear many hats allowed me to gain hands-on experience in nonprofit operations, program development, and collaborative community engagement.

• During my internship at the National Latino Behavioral Health Association, from March to September 2022, I gained valuable experience in office administration and professional communication within a nonprofit behavioral health setting. I supported a variety of administrative tasks, including scheduling, data entry, and document management, while ensuring accuracy and confidentiality. The position helped me develop strong communication and interpersonal skills, both in person and through professional email and phone correspondence. I also enhanced my ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, and contributed to community outreach efforts. This experience deepened my understanding of culturally responsive behavioral health services and prepared me to work effectively in diverse, fast-paced professional settings.