Paola was born in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and spent most of her life moving between the two border cities of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. She completed her bachelor's degree in criminology at the University of New Mexico, with a minor in Spanish.

During her time at UNM, Paola was accepted into the McNair Research Scholars Program. This program is designed to prepare first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students for doctoral studies through intensive research experiences and comprehensive preparation for graduate school. She collaborated with the New Mexico Law Center, focusing her research on Latin American asylum seekers. This passion for research led Paola to where she is today: a Ph.D. student at Syracuse University.