Caryl Montero-Adams is originally from a small town in northeast Ohio. As a first-generation college student, she moved across the state to pursue higher education. While in school, co-curricular involvement introduced her to leadership development, social justice, and community wellness. Caryl’s transformative collegiate experiences sparked a lifelong passion for service and community engagement, which included volunteering on political campaigns for LGBTQ+ rights, lobbying for comprehensive sexuality education, and participating in an intensive experiential learning program centered on issues of diversity and inclusion. Each of these experiences led Caryl to pursue a career in student affairs where she hopes to positively contribute to students’ experiences through co-curricular engagement. 

Having established roots in San Diego, CA in 2011, Caryl serves as the Assistant Dean of Students for Student Life at San Diego State University. In her role, she leads the Center for Student Organizations & Activities, the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life, and the Well-being & Health Promotion department. Prior to her role as Assistant Dean, she served as the Director of Student Life & Leadership, Assistant Director of SLL for Fraternity & Sorority Life, and as a Residence Hall Coordinator at SDSU. Caryl has been honored by the Division of Student Affairs with the Strengthening Connection to SDSU (2020), Excellence in Student Development (2018), and Exceptional New Professional (2014) awards. 

Caryl is pursuing her Doctor of Law and Policy degree at Northeastern University. Caryl earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Health Promotion and Education: Community Health from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Science in Education degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University. Caryl resides in southeast San Diego, where she and her partner Luis are raising their child Remington.