Her Story
About Catalina
Catalina Monsalve is a project management, higher education administration, inclusive excellence, and institutional strategy professional with 14 years of experience at Arizona State University. She currently serves as Project Manager in the Office of Inclusive Excellence within the Office of the University Provost, a role she has held for three and a half years that has evolved to include chief of staff responsibilities. In this position, she supports initiatives aligned with the ASU Charter, including STEM-related programs, disability employee resource groups, faculty and staff trainings through the ASU Charter Library, and preparation of application materials for the Seal of Excellencia HSI designation. Her prior experience includes project management with the Meteor Studio at the Herberger Institute, where she built networks for AR, VR, and XR applications; program coordination with the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering on international grants such as USAID-funded programs; and administrative and program support across the Knowledge Enterprise, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, and the School of Human Evolution and Social Change. She holds a Master in Public Administration from ASU Watts, an undergraduate degree in business with emphasis in public policy and urban planning plus a certificate of international business from WP Garrett School of Business, multiple associate degrees from community college, and certifications including Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Project Management Certification, Sustainable Event Certification, and T4 Mentorship Certification.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Catalina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think my mom. It's interesting because I think resilience, and I have a love-hate relationship with that word, because it requires it implies that we have to suffer in order to achieve something, and I'm not a fan of that. But I do think that inner strengths, maybe inner strength from that. Also, because of my mom, the way my mom was and how she wanted to raise us differently, and see the world differently. Was because of her. The fears are also because of her, but then we have self-advocacy that we and self-choice that I don't think I realize so much older.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I said I wish, and I work with student employees, and so I'm very intentional about guiding them in a way, particularly the women to not I had this group of students that during meetings, I would sit in the back of the instead of at the main table, and I'm like that's why do we do this? Like, we are deserving of sitting at the table, because we are Like, it doesn't nobody's telling us that we shouldn't, and we have ideas. So, I think one of the advice is always sit at the table. Like, obviously read the room. Rome and elsewhere, but, not not taking like, not letting ourselves tell us that we don't belong. There's enough people already doing that for us, and so contribute to that. The fear. I think that there's, culturally, one, I was raised, Catholic, Roman Catholic, and also culture of that. It tends to be more dramatic, and it's very family-based, but there's also influences to that in terms of, like, the expectations of what you should be and what you should become. And so, kind of removing ourselves from those expectations and really digging in too early. The things that we're passionate about and exploring them, rather than going in the paths that other people want us to do.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think integrity is probably what I want that too. When you said your faith, you said you're very spiritual, so I'd say your faith is pretty important to you, too. Yes, I think that Tied to that is, being genuine. Knowing who you are helps, kind of ground all of the other values in your live family. I don't I have so many. But I think. Integrity will probably be the one that comes.
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