Aurora Rose Velázquez is a proud member of the HCHS class of 1984. Back then her joys were singing with Mr. Campbell Austin’s chorus, being an active member of the HCHS Minority Association, and cheering on Hunter’s basketball team. After Hunter, she earned her BS in Managerial Science from Manhattan College, with the hopes and dreams of being a business consultant. Fast forward to many years later, and Aurora, or as many of her classmates knew her by, Rosa, has been a change management consultant in the federal sector for the past 20 years. The path to her position in consultancy also led her to complete a MS in Human Resources and Organization Design, and an MBA from the University of Maryland University College. Hunter had taught her that education was key in reaching one’s dreams.
Aurora’s main passion is in change management and in helping individuals manage the growing pains of “newness”. This entails helping federal employees let go of past work flows and the understanding of the “known” to adopt to a new world that is constantly in a state of “modernization” and change. She has had the distinct pleasure of working with the United States Marine Corps, the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Defense Health Agency, and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Currently she is a member of the Booz Allen Hamilton Change Management Team assisting the VA with their rollout of a new electronic health record that will not only improve the health care experience for veterans, but also allow for a seamless continuation of medical care to service members as they transition to veteran health care. Her professional career has also included training and development, governance, and logistics.
In a previous life, Aurora was also a Spanish and Math teacher at M.S. 54 Booker T. Washington, located on the upper west side of Manhattan, as an educator in their Delta program. Other than her passion for change management, the best job she ever had was teaching her middle school children!
Aurora now lives in Fairfax, VA with her two poodle mixes and American Staffordshire Terrier puppy. She has two children who made their home in Richmond, VA – one who is pursuing a career in corporate recruiting and the other who is finishing up his last year focused in Mass Media and Communications. She looks forward to bringing her experiences to the Board with a special place in her heart for diversity and inclusion.