Writing a New Chapter for Brooks
Lorraine Pulido,Ph.D.
Brooks Board Chairwoman
When Dr. Lorraine Pulido called to order the January meeting of the Brooks Development Authority Board, she made history in the booming development zone.
Pulido is the first woman and Latina to hold the gavel for Brooks, one of the most influential boards in the region.
The unanimous appointment is the latest accolade in a life and career defined by resiliency and leadership.
Pulido was raised on San Antonio’s South Side, in a tight-knit community she still calls home.
“My parents taught me to earn and appreciate my opportunities and always remember where I came from,” Pulido said. “I knew I would repay their hard work and sacrifices by living a life they could be proud of.”
When she became a mother at 17, the life she planned suddenly seemed out of reach.
“People told me I’d never make it, to lower my expectations,” she said, determined to prove wrong those who underestimated her.
With her daughter, and later a son in tow, Pulido went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from Our Lady of the Lake University.
Her contagious optimism against life’s challenges inspires countless women who are part of her impressive network of local leaders and influencers.
Pulido is Communications Manager for VIA Metropolitan Transit, one of many roles in her distinguished career. She serves the Alamo Colleges Board and is an adjunct professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She was appointed to the Brooks Board in 2017 and was elected Chair in December.
While an ambassador for Brooks, Pulido also advocates for VIA in the communities both organizations serve. She is part of the team that will help deliver the region’s first Advanced Rapid Transit project, the VIA Rapid Green Line, in 2027, connecting job centers and neighborhoods from the airport to Brooks.
“Lorraine’s vision is to make Brooks and VIA synonymous with opportunity,” said VIA’s Vice President of Communications and Strategy, Rachel Benavidez. “With such a dynamic woman in the driver’s seat, that vision will continue to propel us forward.”
Lorraine Pulido, Ph.D.
Communications Manager
VIA Metropolitan Transit
Lorraine.Pulido@viainfo.net
VIAinfo.net
