Karla Gutierrez-Hernandez

Karla serves as an Assistant Director of Admissions for the College of Arts & Sciences. In her role, Karla works with various student populations, including assisting with transfer students and scholar-athletes in offering extensive advising and mentorship to articulate the value and benefits of a liberal arts education through the application process. Additionally, she is the liaison for the Willamette Academy program. Willamette Academy offers students from historically underrepresented communities within the Salem-Keizer School District who have the desire to advance to higher education support in achieving their goals.

As a local Salem resident with a bilingual and bicultural background, Karla is the first in her family to attend college and received a Bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies and Spanish from Willamette University in 2019. Karla is a member of the Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling (RMACAC), Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC) and the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling (PNACAC) and accepted the PNACAC Program of Excellence Award in 2023 for Willamette's Camp College program. Her journey into college admissions is fueled by a desire to advocate, support, serve, and empower students to find their place at Willamette to leave a lasting impact.