Flor D. Cabrera
Flor Cabrera is a creative and energetic marketing and communications leader based in Midlothian, Texas, currently serving as Director of Marketing and Communications at the Texas Center for Arts + Academics. In this role, she leads branding, storytelling, and promotional strategy for two arts-focused charter schools, helping elevate student performances in visual arts, theater, dance, and music. She also partners closely with development teams to support fundraising efforts that sustain and grow arts education programs.
Flor’s professional journey reflects a unique blend of science, service, and creativity. She began her academic path in the medical field, completing CNA and EMT training and studying biology at Baylor University, where she initially planned to pursue a healthcare career. However, her passion for art and design ultimately guided her in a new direction. She returned to school to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design from the University of Texas at Arlington, where she honed her skills in branding, digital media, and visual storytelling.
Following graduation, Flor built a diverse design career working with major organizations such as D.R. Horton as well as freelance clients across multiple industries. Her experience in graphic design, marketing, and multimedia content creation eventually led her to her current leadership role. Today, she combines her creative expertise with her desire to make an impact, using design and communication to support arts education and help students’ talents shine on a larger stage.
• BFA in Arts
• Visual Communication Design
• The University of Texas at Arlington- B.F.A.
• Dallas College- Associate's
• Nominated for graphic design work while in school
• Published nationally and locally for design work
• Graduated Magna Cum Laude
• Honor Society
• Dean's List
• DFW nonprofit marketers group (monthly meetings)
• AIGA
• Pre-K soccer instructor
• Latin dance instructor
• Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce participation
• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce participation
• Fort Worth Bar Association collaboration
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a great support system and a great team. My passion and love for what I actually do makes all the difference. I've always been a straight-A student and an overachiever, so I've never had a problem with school, but it makes a big difference when you're really passionate about something and how much you can grow. When I was in the medical field, I was doing great, but discovering what I'm truly passionate about has allowed me to grow so much more in my career.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to have a stronger backbone. This advice really resonated with me when I was considering the medical field - seeing people hurt and not always being able to help as much as I wanted really affected me. But even in my current organization, this advice holds true. People are going to have different opinions and say different things, but you have to have a strong backbone and strong beliefs to navigate through it all.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say look for support, but most importantly, be sure that this is what you're passionate for. Make sure that you understand you and what you want in your life, and how you want to grow and where you want to be in your life, so that when you're doing this, you are completely dedicated and wanting to grow in this field. When I was doing the medical field, I was doing great, but I didn't know where it was taking me. Even though I was dedicated to medicine since I was in elementary school and did it for a lot less time in the arts field, once I figured out what I wanted, it helped me throughout and helped me get here doing what I really love.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think right now the political environment affects schools so much. The focus has been given away from just the support to the students, and we have to adjust to every new thing politically that happens and changes. Everything that's happening in our world affects these kids so much, and then it affects the school by putting in guidelines and things that might be helpful, but a lot of times they're not.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think that the support system, my family, God and our belief system are most important to me. You don't have to believe in God, but you have to believe that there is something in you or around us that helps you or guides you. My family and the community are essential - creating a community around you matters so much. We have an incredible friend system, the family you pick and the family you grow with, who support you and allow you to grow and help you grow.