Bio

Julie's early years, born into a military family in South Texas, reflect her extraordinary adaptability and resilience. She embraced each new location, from the family housing at Texas A&M University in Kingsville to Fort Monmouth in New Jersey, Fort Benning in Georgia, Germany, and Santiago, Chile, where her family was stationed at the U.S. Embassy. Her journey continued to San Antonio and Laredo, Texas, as her father took a significant role with the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Texas. The Alfaro family then established roots in Corpus Christi, Texas, and later Carlsbad, California, where Julie graduated early and embarked on her college adventure.

During her college years, Julie launched an inspiring four-year surf trip, exploring the remote coastal regions of Mexico, including Nayarit, Sinaloa, Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco. This journey ignited her passion for nature, simple living, and teaching, as she volunteered at the local DIF Fonapas.

After returning to the United States to complete her studies at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, where she earned her B.A., she balanced raising her children with pursuing her dreams, ultimately earning a graduate degree (M.A.) in political science and international relations at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas. Her political experiences encompass conducting polls, engaging in campaigns, participating in televised debates, facilitating voter education, interning at the state house, and supporting graduate professors.

Julie's unwavering love for teaching and travel has fueled her journey around the globe. Her adventurous spirit has led her to numerous destinations, from the United States to Spain, Monaco, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the Hawaiian Islands, Costa Rica, Panama, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands,  Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Her extensive travel experiences and passion for new adventures have profoundly shaped her worldview. 

Julie has been incredibly fortunate to receive guidance and mentorship from remarkable individuals such as Dr. Joan Jaimes, Professor Carolyn Foster, Dean Ruben Flores, Dr. Charles Cotrell, Dr. Richard Gambitta, Chancellor Dr. Ernest Martinez, Professor Robert Richmond, and Professor Robert Marbut, among others. 

She feels deeply blessed to be the mother of her wonderful children—Richard King, Daniel Matthew Joel, Elizabeth Anne, Victoria Justina, and Summer—and to have two beautiful grandchildren, Freya and Georgia. Her husband, John, stands by her side as a constant source of support, and she is profoundly thankful for the foundational lessons gifted to her by her parents, Mary Alfaro and Attorney Daniel V. Alfaro.