Luz grew up in the Sacramento Delta area. She attended the University of San Francisco, a Catholic and Jesuit institution, as an undergraduate majoring in nursing. As an undergraduate, she volunteered in the campus ministry. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, she returned to Sacramento.

From 1987 to 1997, she was employed at Sutter General Hospital, where she worked in telemetry, emergency medicine, and floating to the intensive care unit and other hospital units. In addition to working full time, she volunteered educating the Hispanic population on multiple health topics.

Luz has been a family nurse practitioner since 1997. She completed the family nurse practitioner/physician assistant program at UC Davis School of Medicine following the Masters track. She also completed a Masters of Science and Nursing, a combined program at the UCD FNA/PA program and Sacramento State University. Luz completed her Masters thesis on diabetes management in the adult Hispanic population. She conducted her research at a local outpatient primary care clinic. She enjoys all aspects of family practice since it allows for a direct involvement in health education and promotion.

In her spare time, Luz enjoys jogging, swimming and bicycle riding with her husband and their sixteen-year-old daughter. She enjoys her roles as wife and mother.