Karla Corres Luna is from Oaxaca, Mexico, where she spent her early years before moving to Seaside, California. Growing up in Seaside, she attended middle and high school, eventually pursuing her higher education at Cal State Monterey Bay. Despite the location change, Karla considers Seaside her second hometown.

As a first-generation Latina, Karla began her academic journey at CSUMB as a freshman, choosing not to transfer from a community college. She decided to attend CSUMB due to encouragement from her family to stay close to home, a decision she later appreciated for the opportunities it offered. During her undergraduate years, Karla took advantage of various opportunities, including a congressional internship through the Panetta Institute for Public Policy and a study abroad program in South Africa. Active involvement in campus organizations like MEChA complemented her academic pursuits while benefiting from family support and the cost-saving measure of commuting to campus.

Karla's academic path naturally led her to Business Administration with a concentration in Management and International Business. Coming from a family of business owners, she was deeply influenced by her relatives' entrepreneurial endeavors, ranging from her grandfather's agricultural pursuits in Oaxaca to her father's shipping company bridging Mexico and the United States. This upbringing instilled in Karla a profound appreciation for the potential of business to foster international connections and opportunities.

Karla graduated in Spring 2017 from CSUMB, a milestone she achieved with invaluable experiences and insights gained throughout her academic journey. Reflecting on her time at CSUMB, Karla offers sage advice to fellow students, urging them to seize every opportunity, get involved in campus activities and organizations, volunteer, and network extensively.

In a recent development, Karla received news of being awarded the prestigious Garcia-Robles Fulbright Scholarship, a significant academic and personal accomplishment. This opportunity, which was encouraged by Fullbright Scholar and College of Business Professor of Marketing Dr. Jenny Lin, will afford her nine months in Mexico to conduct research for her dissertation. Beyond the educational realm, Karla sees this as a chance to reconnect with her Mexican heritage and explore a facet of her identity that remains unexplored. She eagerly anticipates delving deeper into her roots and understanding what it truly means to be Mexican, both in Mexico and abroad.

For more information about the Fullbright Scholarship, please visit https://us.fulbrightonline.org/.