Our Staff Team
Dagoberto Valladares | Co-Director
dagoberto.valladares@cru.org
tara.valladares@cru.org
Dagoberto (Dag) and Tara Valladares both graduated from the University of Virginia in May 2016, and have been married since January 2018. Dagoberto has been working with Cru at UVA and PVCC since graduating from UVA. He began his career with Cru having realized how formative the college years are in the lives and futures of students. He is passionate about introducing students to Christ, walking alongside them as their relationship with Christ develops, and equipping them to be Christ’s ambassadors for the rest of their lives. In his free time, Dagoberto loves playing sports and board games, getting to know new people, and enjoying the company of his community. His wife Tara received her PhD in Quantitative Psychology from UVA in 2023, and works in the private sector while also serving with Cru as affiliate staff. They are parents to an adorable and fearless 3 year old girl named Lucy and just welcomed their second baby girl Nina in August 2024.
Caela Carlson | Co-Director
caela.carlson@cru.org
Caela graduated from the University of Maryland where she fell in love with Jesus and in deep like with the ministry of Cru. After serving there for a number of years, she excitedly joined the UVA staff team as a Team Leader in 2022. Caela loves and is still a little in awe that this is her job. She loves students and truly believes this next generation is going to change the world. Caela enjoys a good book, good coffee, and good friends. You can find her doing a puzzle, trying new places to eat, or passionately discussing Harry Potter with anyone who will engage with her.
Alexandra Uy
alexandra.uy@cru.org
Alexandra is a 2024 graduate from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering. Cru helped show her Jesus throughout college and she has decided to intern on Grounds to be used by God similarly in the lives of other students. She fell in love with Cru over her four years which helped lead her to change her post-graduate plans to serve God in this way- ask her about this story, it's a good one! Outside of all this, Alexandra loves to read and log it all on Goodreads, jog in nature, and grow in her GODfidence.
We also have a few other staff members serving on our team this year, but they are keeping the door open to returning to overseas ministry. If you would like to get in contact with Christina or Rachael please contact a staff member above to ask for their contact info.