Celina Pacana

Impact Manager

As Merritt’s Impact Manager, Celina Pacana leads Commitment to California, Merritt’s impact and community engagement initiative that invests in the housing workforce. She joined the team in 2023, bringing over five years of program management experience in community and economic development.

Before joining Merritt, Celina served as Assistant Program Officer at LISC Los Angeles, where she supported diverse-owned small businesses in underinvested communities by deploying flexible capital and designing technical assistance programs. She also worked at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation as Assistant Program Manager, growing workforce development initiatives across key regional industries.

Celina is passionate about workforce development and mobilizing capital to build stronger, more equitable communities. Through her role, she amplifies Merritt’s impact as an affordable housing investor by empowering the people who create and preserve housing across California.

Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Celina is a first-generation college graduate whose lived experiences shape her commitment to equity and building strong job outcomes for diverse individuals seeking careers in community development. She graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Science in Economics, concentrating in Communications and Political Science.