Amanda Renteria is the proud daughter of Trinidad and Helen Renteria. Both Trinidad and Helen are former migrant farmworkers who worked their way up in the fields as young adults. Her parents' example and hard work helped to mold Amanda into a standout student and athlete at Woodlake High School in California's agriculturally rich Central Valley. After leading her basketball, softball, and volleyball teams to league championships, Amanda was voted the Central Section's CIF Girl Scholar/Athlete of the Year. Amanda graduated from Woodlake High School as the top student and valedictorian of the class of 1992. Amanda was the first woman and Mexican-American from her small town to be accepted at Stanford University.

Amanda went on to earn a BA in Economics as well as a BA in Political Science, with honors. About six years later, Amanda completed a Master's degree in Business Administration at Harvard Business School. Her first job out of college, Amanda gained nearly four years of valuable private sector work experience as an investment analyst in Los Angeles. Amanda soon returned to Woodlake, to serve as a teacher. Using the skills she had gained in finance and economics, she taught Advanced Math and Economics at her high school. During this time, Amanda also coached the girls' junior varsity basketball and softball teams. Immediately prior to joining Code for America, Amanda had been deeply involved in guiding Emerge America, a non-profit organization that trains Democratic women to run for elected office at all levels of government. Previously, Amanda was the National Political Director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 Presidential Campaign. Immediately thereafter, she served as the Chief of Operations for the California Department of Justice under California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. While working for US Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in 2008, Amanda became the first Latina Chief of Staff in the history of the United States Senate. Prior to this, she was an economic policy advisor to US Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Amanda has worked at the highest levels of government and is a nationally recognized political strategist. 

Previous Career Highlights: 

• Board Chair, Interim President, and Senior Advisor for Emerge America

• Chief of Operations at the California Department of Justice

• National Political Director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 Presidential Campaign

• Chief of Staff in the United States Senate

• Graduate of Harvard and Stanford

• Proud daughter of California's Central Valley and mom of two energetic kids!

Having spent four years at Woodlake High School, Dr. Villavicencio graduated in 1986. After leaving WUHS, Dr. Villavicencio attended University of California San Diego for his undergraduate degree. He received his Medical Degree from Harvard Medical School in 1995, with honors. He completed a six-year neurosurgical residency at Duke University, and subsequently underwent additional training in orthopedic spinal surgery.

During his WUHS years, Dr. Villavicencio was instrumental to the success of the 1984 and 1985 Varsity Football teams. He was the MVP of the 1985 Varsity team that were East Sierra League Champions. From there, Alan moved upward. He has competed successfully in approximately 35 marathons, 50 triathlons, 20 complete Ironman triathlons, including the Ironman World Championships on several occasions. As for the Ironman, the motto is: Swim 2.4 miles. Bike 112 miles. Run 26.2 miles.....Brag for the rest of your life.

Professionally speaking, Dr. Villavicencio has reached a pinnacle of success that very few people reach. Dr. Villavicencio is the senior managing partner of Boulder Neurosurgical Associates. Dr. Villavicencio is the Founder and current Program Chairman for an annual regional neurosurgical symposium entitled Current Techniques in the Treatment of Cranial and Spinal Disorders. Dr. Villavicencio is also the Founder and Chairman of the Board for the Justin Parker Neurological Institute. Also the Founder and Director of the BNA Complex Spine Surgery Fellowship Program.

Dr. Villavicencio is Director of Research and Development for Boulder Neurosurgical Associates. He is also Director of Neurosurgery at Boulder Community and Longmont United Hospitals and Director of Surgery at the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute in Colorado. He is also Principal investigator for several ongoing FDA IDE (investigational device exemption) prospective randomized trials.

Dr. Villavicencio is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), The North American Spine Society (NASS), The Colorado Neurosurgical Society (CNS), The Colorado Medical Society (CMS) and the AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves and the Section on Tumors. He has participated in more than 200 Scientific Presentations, and he has contributed to more than 80 Medical Journal articles.