From navigating the foster care system for 15 years to earning her Criminal Justice degree from Sam Houston State University, Joanna is on a mission to empower others and advocate for change. She’s a proud volunteer with Blue Sunday Child Abuse Prevention and strives to make a difference in the lives of children in foster care.
Dr. Diana Almaguer has served, since 2019, as the Regional Director for Common Thread, a program under the Human Trafficking Interdiction Division with BCFS Health and Human Services. Common Thread is a program whose mission is to connect with Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth through relational advocacy, intensive case management and peer support. In this role, she oversees the direct delivery of services of human trafficking survivors in 18 counties under the Rio Grande Valley region.
Prior to joining the BCFS family, Dr. Almaguer served as an Executive Director for CASA of Hidalgo County In., as well as an Investigations Supervisor and Licensing Supervisor with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services for over ten years. Dr. Almaguer is also an Adjunct Lecturer with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Almaguer has over 25 years of experience in advocating for young people who have been victims of abuse and neglect and children who have suffered severe trauma through other forms of abuse, including trafficking. Dr. Almaguer’s experience extends into both the private and nonprofit sectors.
Dr. Almaguer has been certified as a TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) Practitioner and has received her certification in Traumatic Stress Studies. Dr. Almaguer is an active member of the Pharr Sunrise Kiwanis and San Juan Community Lions Clubs. Dr. Almaguer previously served as a board member for the Palmer Drug Abuse Program and previously served as the Chair of the Public Administration Advisory Committee at South Texas College. She was also a part of the inaugural class of Latino Texas Policy Center Fellows program.
Dr. Almaguer is a graduate of Our Lady of the Lake University with a PhD in Leadership Studies and holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Texas Pan American.
