Team

Vicky Santos

Interim President & CEO

Vicky Santos is MAOF's, Interim President & CEO. As a Chief Operating Officer, she oversees the Early Child Education Services division, which includes Early Care and Education, Preschool, Head Start, R&R, CalWORKS, Child Care programs, Facilities, and IT departments. She has been with the organization since 1995. Vicky is responsible for the overall implementation of MAOF’s comprehensive Programs and Services divisions. She began her career at MAOF as a teacher in the Head Start program.  She is a Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Binational Fellow.

Vicky holds a B.A. in Child Development from Cal State Los Angeles and an M.S. in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne. She resides in Chino Hills with her husband and has three children.

William Covington, III

CHIEF Financial OFFICER

Will Covington is Chief Financial Officer of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF), where he provides executive leadership and oversight of finance, accounting, procurement, and financial strategy for the $270 million-plus early education, social services, and community development organization. With more than 25 years of experience spanning finance, business planning, strategy, and operations, Will has held C-suite and senior executive roles across the nonprofit, technology, entertainment, and media sectors. His career includes leadership positions with organizations such as Fox, NBCUniversal, DIRECTV, and Children’s Institute.

Throughout his career, he has developed and strengthened financial and operational infrastructures, led organizational transformation, and supported strategic growth within both Fortune 500 companies and mission-driven nonprofit organizations. Will earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In addition to his executive leadership responsibilities, Will serves on the Board of Directors of CharterSAFE National, an insurance and risk management captive. He is also actively engaged in community service and nonprofit leadership. Outside of his professional and community commitments, Will enjoys traveling, golf, and volunteering.

Kristan "Kris" Venegas, PhD

Chief Learning, data and evaluation officer

Kristan “Kris” Venegas, PhD, joined MAOF in November 2022, as the inaugural Chief Learning, Data, and Evaluation Officer. In this role, Dr. Venegas works to nurture a culture of learning within the organization. Dr. Venegas leads strategic planning and evaluation efforts, manages the grants department, early education academic advising, and collaborates in the development of educational partnerships. She also supports the execution of MAOF's advancement, engagement, and outreach efforts. She has over 20 years of experience as a university administrator and professor, including holding an endowed chair from 2019-2022. She was a HOPE Institute Fellow in 2018. Dr. Venegas is a proud Chicana from El Monte where she lives with her husband and their two children. Kris holds an AA in Child Development from Río Hondo College, as well as a BA in English, Creative Writing, a Master’s Degree in Education, and a PhD in Educational Policy, all from the University of Southern California (USC).

Claudia Rufino

Chief Human Resources Officer

Claudia Rufino serves as Chief Human Resources Officer of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF), overseeing recruitment, retention, employee benefits, performance management, workplace safety, workers’ compensation, and staff development. As a strategic partner to executive leadership, she aligns human resources priorities with MAOF’s mission, strengthens organizational effectiveness, and supports a culture of employee growth. Claudia brings extensive institutional knowledge and human resources experience to her role. She holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, completed the UCLA Anderson Executive Program, and is a Certified CHRO. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA), and Latinas Rising Up in HR. Claudia resides in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and two daughters.