Juana Matias, joined MassINC in 2019, as Chief Operating Officer. In this capacity, Juana oversees the development and marketing efforts of the organization, while supporting President, Lauren Louisan Grogan, with the overall management of the organization. Prior to joining MassINC, Juana served as the State Representative for the 16th Essex District, becoming one of the first Latina immigrant women elected to the Massachusetts State House. Juana dedicated years of her career to public service following law school by enlisting in AmeriCorps as a Justice AmeriCorps Legal Advocate. Prior to her service with AmeriCorps, Juana served the Merrimack Valley region as a social worker, where she assisted families and children who had suffered abuse and neglect by providing them with a wide range of support and social services.
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Juana immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic at the age of 5 with her parents and three brothers. They settled in Haverhill, MA where she attended local public schools. Juana currently resides in Lawrence with her partner Pavel and their beautiful dog, Teja.

​Juana graduated from the UMass Boston in 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science and Criminal Justice. She went on to receive her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in 2014.