Malena Loucks, Chief Operating Officer
Malena joined SPEF in 2019 as a Community Engagement Coordinator. She has supported SPEF in many roles since, including managing a childcare scholarship project and shepherding the development of the 2022-25 Strategic Plan. Previously, she was the Outreach Manager for Pathways LA, the largest child care resource and referral agency in metropolitan Los Angeles, where she led the optimization of intake procedures to facilitate enrollment for parents/guardians and improve caseload management for enrollment specialists.
In addition to her recent experience in the non-profit sector, Malena’s love for soccer led her to years of work in fan and brand development, community development, and media and tournament operations for several professional clubs, leagues, and media organizations. She has worked for professional clubs (FC Bayern Munich, New York City Football Club, New York Cosmos, California United FC), media outlets (Univision Deportes, The Guardian, Howler Magazine), and leagues and confederations (U.S. Soccer, Major League Soccer, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football).
Malena holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from Northern Arizona University, and she was a Fellow at the Flinn Foundation Arizona Center for Civic Leadership. She volunteers with Rooklyn International Football Association, a non-profit that serves asylee, immigrant, and refugee youth in New York City through soccer instruction.