Her Story
About Karol
Karol Tituaña Manguia is an Ecuadorian attorney, humanitarian worker, and law student whose career has been centered on supporting vulnerable communities and strengthening access to protection and justice.
Her international work included supporting refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers along the Ecuador–Peru border during the Venezuelan migration crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Through programs connected to UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), she worked on protection cases, migration monitoring, humanitarian assistance, and coordination with government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
After moving to the United States, Karol continued her work with domestic violence survivors, immigrants, Spanish-speaking communities, and survivors of human trafficking. Across her roles, she has provided direct advocacy, helped survivors navigate legal protections, served as a point person for human trafficking-related cases, and worked to strengthen collaboration among domestic violence agencies and community partners.
Most recently, she served as the Domestic Violence Multidisciplinary Team Coordinator at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago, where she coordinated prosecutors, law enforcement, advocates, and partner agencies in high-risk domestic violence cases and helped strengthen the local domestic violence response network.
Karol is now pursuing her J.D. at Northern Illinois University College of Law, with growing interests in healthcare law, compliance, and immigration law. Her work reflects a continued commitment to public service, immigrant communities, survivor advocacy, and improving access to legal and social services.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Karol
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my family, especially the strong women who raised me. My grandmother was a leader in her Indigenous community in Ecuador, and my mom was the first in her family to earn a university degree, later becoming a nurse with a master’s in public health management. They taught me that education should also be a way to serve others and give back to the community. My twin sisters, who are also pursuing careers in law and economics, continue to inspire me.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don’t be afraid of difficult paths. Do what you love, follow your passions, and surround yourself with people who are passionate about making a difference too. Humanitarian and advocacy work can be challenging, but it is incredibly rewarding because even small actions can change someone’s life. Sometimes it is providing the right information or resources; other times, it is helping a domestic violence survivor find the courage to seek help after 20 years. That impact is what makes the work worth it.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges right now is the fear many immigrant and Latino survivors experience when deciding whether to report domestic violence or other crimes. Concerns about immigration enforcement, detention, deportation, or family separation can discourage survivors and witnesses from seeking help or going to court. National advocacy organizations have documented this chilling effect among immigrant survivors.
At the same time, I see an opportunity in how communities are coming together. Stronger partnerships, culturally responsive services, bilingual advocacy, legal information, and trusted community networks can help survivors feel safer accessing support and understanding their rights.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family is at the center of everything I do. I grew up surrounded by strong women, especially my grandmother and my mom, who taught me not to let anyone define what I can or cannot achieve. They showed me the importance of resilience, education, service, and giving back. Those values continue to guide me in both my personal life and my career.
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