Our Story
Mariposa Consulting was founded by Lucia Zuniga, who knows firsthand the power of high-quality care in the face of profound trauma. After nearly 30 years as a healthcare administrator, sexual violence response program developer, and frontline responder, Lucia sought to find ways to share the knowledge, tools and wisdom of her fulfilling and impactful career with like-minded institutions who similarly wish to provide victims of trauma with holistic, high-quality care.
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Our mission is to design and sustain empowering trauma response services so that victims of all age groups can access the support they deserve to move toward healing.
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Mariposa Consulting chose its name in honor of the butterfly. Similar to the butterfly's transformative journey from a cocoon, we understand that holistic trauma response leads to resilience and healing.
"Empowerment and holistic, quality care are central to healing."
Full Bio of Lucia Zuniga, Founder and Lead Consultant
Lucia Zuniga is an experienced nursing leader with a strong background in healthcare leadership, administration, emergency care, and specialized services in sexual assault and trauma. She was one of the pioneering nurses trained as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) in Massachusetts while working at a renowned trauma hospital affiliated with Harvard University in Boston. Later, she played a key role in establishing and overseeing the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program, which expanded statewide to 27 hospitals and 7 child advocacy centers.
Lucia's contributions also include envisioning, designing, and securing funding for the development of a specialized forensic evidence collection kit for children and serving as a founding board member of the Massachusetts Children's Alliance. She has been actively involved in advancing nursing leadership through her participation in various organizations and initiatives, such as the Foundation in Nursing Leadership, Research, and Science for the Organization of Nursing Leaders, MA, RI, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Massachusetts Action Coalition, and the Academic Practice Integration Committee of the Organization of Nurse Leaders, MA, RI.
In addition to her local impact, Lucia has ventured into global healthcare by serving as a Chief Nursing Officer for American Hospital Management Company and providing expertise to Physicians for Human Rights in post-conflict African countries. She also directed the National Telenursing Program, empowering sexual assault victims in Navy, Rural, and Native American tribal communities across the United States.
Lucia's dedication to advancing healthcare education is evident in her collaboration with Boston College to develop the prestigious Masters in Forensic Nursing program. As President of the Masters in Forensic Nursing Board, she actively promoted cutting-edge healthcare practices and secured significant funding for nurse recruitment efforts.
Her expertise is recognized internationally, as she serves as Co-Chair of the SANE Council for the International Association of Forensic Nurses. Lucia has published articles in reputable journals, including the Journal of Child Abuse, focusing on successful Pediatric SANE Programs and advocating for high-quality statewide programs for child sexual abuse.
Lucia's exceptional contributions have earned her prestigious honors, such as the Massachusetts Governor's Leadership Award, the Black Nurses Association's "Nursing Leadership" award, and the International Association of Forensic Nurses' Innovation award. She has also delivered captivating presentations at national and international conferences, inspiring diverse audiences with her insights into leadership and compassionate care for survivors of sexual assault and trauma.
Lucia holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Masters Degree in Nursing Leadership and Health Care Administration from Regis College. Her remarkable career was shaped by her formative experiences in trauma emergency nursing at Harvard Boston teaching hospitals.