She earned a B.A. in Hispanic Studies from the Universidad de Puerto Rico and an M.A. in Higher Education. Born on February 18, 1972, in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, she moved to Florida in 1998.

Lopez is a Christian and enjoys recreational activities such as going to the gym, karaoke, salsa dancing, writing, researching, youth mentorship, and volleyball.

She was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2022. Before that, she served as a School Board Member for District 2 in the Orange County School District from 2018 to 2022.

Lopez is actively involved in several organizations. She founded Familias Presentes - iEstudiantes Excelentes! in 2015 and has been involved with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Advisory Council (2018) and the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Superintendent's Public Education Leadership Project (2017). She also served on the Mi Familia Vota Education Committee (2015-2016) and the AP College Board Professional Leadership Committee for the Spanish Language and Culture Course (2010-2016).

Her achievements include receiving the Puerto Rican Day at the Capitol Helping Hands Award (2023), the Farmworker Association of Florida Recognition Award (2023), and the Afro-Latinx Award from Escuela de Bomba y Plena Tata Cepeda (2022). In 2021, she was recognized as Elected Official of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers and was honored in the Congressional Record by Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy. She also led a successful initiative to rename Stonewall Jackson Middle School to Roberto Clemente Middle School in 2021.

Lopez has received numerous accolades for her contributions to education, including the National Association for Bilingual Education Leadership Award (2019), Mujeres Destacadas en Educacion Award (2017), and the Orange County Public Schools Teacher of the Year (2017). Other honors include the National Queen Smith Award for Commitment to Urban Public Education (2016), Life Changer of the Year Award (2016), and the Florida Governor's Shine Award for Inspirational Teachers (2016). She has also been recognized by Walt Disney World with the Honorary Citizenship Award (2016) and by Coca-Cola as an Educator of Distinction (2015).