Partner Student Story: Meet Christina Cantero

Meet Christina Cantero, Learning & Development Coordinator at Para Los Niños in Los Angeles, CA, and a proud graduate of CLU’s Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program.

Inspired by her early childhood experiences, and a father who served as an educator in the Compton Unified School District, Christina pursued a degree in child development that ultimately led her to Para Los Niños (PLN), a nonprofit dedicated to fostering pathways to success through strong families, thriving communities, and educational excellence for children and youth.

Christina has always been driven by a deep commitment to kindness, advocacy, and helping others reach their full potential. When considering a master’s degree, she found her values closely aligned with Claremont Lincoln University. The Claremont Core®, centered on mindfulness, dialogue, collaboration, and change, resonated deeply with her leadership approach and strengthened her ability to navigate life with greater acceptance and a growth mindset.

Today, Christina cultivates an engaging, inclusive, and strategic learning culture for all PLN employees. She collaborates regularly with colleagues to develop clearly defined career pathways and promotes professional development opportunities that empower individuals to envision their futures and find meaningful work.

“I’ve always been driven to help others succeed and advocate for those who are often overlooked. The Claremont Core® courses, especially around mindfulness and change, helped me shift my perspective, teaching me to embrace growth, stay solutions-oriented, and lead without limits. Also, the flexibility of the program made it possible to pursue my goals while balancing my life and work commitments.”