Vanessa García is a Policy Analyst at Gary, where she advances legislative and advocacy efforts and leads equity-driven policy research. A first-generation college graduate, she grounds her work in expanding access and opportunity for underrepresented communities.

Vanessa brings a strong background in politics and education policy. She began her career with Education Reform Now (ERN), where she collaborated with coalition partners to drive transformative legislation, including the prohibition of transcript withholding for unpaid fees, a rewrite of Colorado’s school funding formula and the creation of the Universal Preschool Program.

Most recently, Vanessa served in the Colorado House of Representatives Majority Office, supporting members of the Education Committee and the State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee. In this role, she tracked legislation across the caucus, worked closely with leadership and helped move bills successfully to the governor’s desk.

In between, she contributed to disinformation research efforts ahead of the 2024 election, uplifting narratives that countered misinformation and strengthened democratic participation in Colorado.

Vanessa holds a master’s degree in legal studies with concentrations in litigation and dispute resolution from Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in socio-legal studies and Spanish from the University of Denver.