dolores k. schroeder, JD, MSW

an executive strategist whose lived experience, legal acumen, and practitioner-oriented social work training inform her leadership in the immigrant rights movement as chief executive officer of the history-making nonprofit RAÍCES

Dolores K. Schroeder marching for women's rights in Austin, Texas (2017)

“I am a lawyer and a social worker — two professions that go hand-in-hand with a commitment to advocacy, empowerment, and service.”

about

As the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and a Slovak American, Dolores’ upbringing instilled in her a strong pride for her ethnicity and heritage — and a lifelong commitment to uplifting ethnic, cultural, racial, and religious diversity within the communities she serves.

Dolores has extensive c-suite business and legal experience and has navigated multi-faceted projects involving cross-cultural and cross-border issues in the public, private, and non-governmental organization sectors. She previously served as counsel and head of regional operations in North, Latin, and South Americas for a division of a global, publicly-traded real estate services company, with responsibilities including strategy development and oversight in budgeting, finance, risk management, and operational execution. 

Dolores has a strong background in policy development and governance and extensive experience in public-private partnerships. Prior to commencing her tenure as CEO of RAICES, she served as a member of the RAICES Board of Directors, including the role of chair, founding member of the Governance Committee, and chair of the Compliance Committee. Her commitment to business ethics is guided by the foundational social work principles that launched her career.

education

  • Virginia Tech University

  • Loyola University of Chicago School of Law

  • Loyola University of Chicago School of Social Work

    Concentration in healthcare and yearlong practicum conducting child abuse and neglect assessments and investigations at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago

  • St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana

Dolores K. Schroeder's father during his adolescence in Piedras Negras, Mexico

“GROWING UP, I FELT GREAT WARMTH IN A HOUSEHOLD THAT EMBRACED OUR HERITAGE. THIS WAS POSSIBLE BECAUSE MY FATHER EXPERIENCED A HUMANE AND DIGNIFIED IMMIGRATION PROCESS WHEN HE CAME TO THE U.S. FROM PIEDRAS NEGRAS. AND I AM DRIVEN TO DO ALL THAT I CAN TO EMPOWER FAMILIES TO SUCCEED IN THE U.S.”