Leticia Robles ’89, a University of the Pacific regent and founder and president of Pacific Homecare Services, has been selected to receive the prestigious ATHENA Award from the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce in recognition of her tremendous impact on women and the community.

"I am honored and humbled to receive this award, and to know that my work is making a difference," Robles said. "Years ago, others invested in my future, and it prompted me to ask myself, what impact was I going to have on people? What footprint did I want to leave behind? I have been blessed with so many opportunities to encourage others—women, students—to realize their full potential."

The ATHENA Award is presented annually to an individual who has achieved excellence in their profession, is a leader in their community and who serves as a mentor, role model and advocate for women.

“I cannot think of a more deserving ATHENA Award winner than Leticia Robles,” said Pacific President Christopher Callahan. “Regent Robles cares passionately about our community, has succeeded at the highest levels in the creation and growth of Pacific Homecare and has served as a role model, adviser and mentor to so many Pacific students. I’ve seen firsthand how she has changed the trajectory of the lives of students she has engaged.”

Robles attended Pacific as a first-generation student, earning her bachelor’s degree in business administration. The company she founded, Pacific Homecare Services, provides in-home care for seniors and developmentally disabled patients. Once a home-based business with a staff of one, Pacific Homecare has grown into a thriving company with seven locations and more than 6,000 employees serving thousands of Northern California families.

Of her staff, 95% are female, including 60% of her management team. Many are younger Latina women who look to her as a mentor and role model.

She has inspired a culture informed by the core values of respect, honesty and kindness and has created an uplifting environment where employees are empowered to grow personally and professionally.

More recently, Robles has spun off two additional businesses providing fingerprinting and transportation services. Both are successful and growing.

Robles has served on Pacific’s Board of Regents since 2020. She and her husband, Jorge Robles ’90, fund an endowed scholarship for students in the Community Involvement Program, which supports first-generation college students from Stockton. They also host welcome celebrations for incoming Latinx students and their families. 

For the last two years, the Robles have provided scholarships for Latinx participants in the Pacific Summer High School Institute. In 2022, they supported 10 students. This year, they provided a giving day challenge match with the proceeds funding scholarships for 26 students.

In addition to supporting Pacific, Leticia Robles serves on the boards of the Children’s Home of Stockton and Sutter Health Valley Area and actively supports the United Way of San Joaquin County. She also is an investor in Stockton’s Mezzo Restaurant and is active in her church, Cathedral of the Annunciation.

“With her passion for helping others, her home health care work and her commitment to community, Leticia is well deserving of this prestigious award,” said Board of Regents Chair Mary-Elizabeth Eberhardt ’76. “She also is one fabulous regent. Leticia does so much for Stockton and is dedicated to our youth. I can’t think of a better person to receive this honor.”

Eberhardt added, “Leticia continues the tradition of so many from the university who have won the ATHENA Award. Pacificans… we do good things!”

The inaugural ATHENA Award was presented in 1986 to the late Judy Chambers, former Pacific vice president for student life. Other recipients from the Pacific community include former board chair Kathleen Lagorio Janssen ’68, current Regents Connie Callahan ’75 and Dea Berberian, alumna Kristen Birtwhistle ’81, ’88 and President Emerita Pam Eibeck.

Established in 1982, ATHENA International partners with hundreds of chambers of commerce, colleges and universities and other organizations in 48 states and 11 countries. Nearly 8,000 leaders have been recognized with the ATHENA Leadership award in more than 500 regions worldwide. The Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce is home to one of the longest running ATHENA programs in the nation.

Robles will receive the ATHENA Award Tuesday, November 28.