Vanessa Alcantar

Business Analyst

Integrated Financial Systems Operations

Vanessa Alcantar grew up 15 minutes from campus and says Stanford has played an integral role in her life for as long as she can remember. “Stanford has enriched my life since I was a child,” she says. “My love for the university goes beyond my employment.”

From cultural programs like Barrio Assistance for Latino grade school students that she and her siblings attended as children, to exercise programs and athletic events that she and her family participate in today, Vanessa says Stanford offers employees a diverse range of resources and opportunities to enhance their personal lives. “Stanford is dedicated to all aspects of an employee’s life, from professional development to work-life balance.”

Vanessa began her career journey at Stanford as a freshman in high school, when she participated in the Youth Opportunity Program which gave her exposure to work in the field of human resources. Since that time, she has held numerous roles at Stanford, including administrative data analyst, disability leave analyst, business analyst, and – most recently – financial systems analyst.

Vanessa attributes her career advancement and professional success to the support she has received from colleagues and supervisors. “The amazingly talented, knowledgeable and dedicated people that I have had the opportunity to work with have helped me gain and further my skills,” she says. “These folks have seen qualities in me I didn’t know I had and believed in me enough to present me challenging opportunities that have resulted in career growth.”