Anna Lee Vargas is a sixth generation San Luis Valley (SLV) Native born and raised in Manassa, Colorado. She attended Adams State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Welfare and Spanish, Liberal Arts.

Anna Lee describes herself as a natural born advocate and community leader who is passionate about protecting the land, water, and people of the San Luis Valley. She loves working with kids and feels fortunate to have worked with youth at her previous employment, Conejos Clean Water, as well as a Prevention Specialist for the San Luis Valley Community Mental Health Center (now the San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group) and Parent Partner for the Monte Vista Migrant Head Start. 

With a decade of experience in community organizing, facilitation, advocacy, and project management, Anna Lee has been a strong organizer and advocate for environmental, social, economic, and food justice issues in the San Luis Valley. While working with Conejos Clean Water, Anna Lee is known for having led the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument Expansion Campaign, working with the Navajo Nation to stop oil and gas leases, facilitating with partners a San Luis Valley Solid Waste Diversion and Recycling Taskforce, helping gather quantitative and qualitative data for a San Luis Valley Waste Diversion Study, helping a local pharmacy implement the Medication Take Back Program and receptacle, and working with youth, youth leadership, environmental education (Hands on the Land), youth outings, and a youth advisory council. Her advocacy has taken her from her small town in the SLV to the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington DC.

Anna Lee currently serves on the Board of Directors of Great Old Broads for Wilderness and the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area. She is also part of Soul Players of the Valley, Capulin and serves on the Capulin Leadership Development Team.

Anna Lee is proud of her professional accomplishments but considers her greatest accomplishment as being a mama to her wonderful daughter.