Maria Gutierrez
Position: Higher Education Manager
E-mail: [email protected]
Maria Gutierrez (she/ella) was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and immigrated to the United States as a child with her parents, the original dreamers. After navigating the challenges of not qualifying for AB 540 upon high school graduation, she still earned an AA-T in Psychology from Chabot College. She then transferred to San Jose State University, where she was a part of Student Advocates for Higher Education (SAHE) and became AB 540/SB 68-eligible, all while working for the Cesar Chavez Community Action Center. Throughout her career trajectory, Maria has held various roles centered in higher education, including outreach specialist, HSI administrative assistant, Puente Project Counselor/Coordinator, Instructor, and Dream Center Counselor/Coordinator. Maria is passionate about higher education and acknowledges the inequities that need to change in our educational system while empowering students and educators.
In her free time, you can find Maria exploring new restaurants with her partner, soaking up quality time with her daughter, or riding her Peloton. Maria was undocumented for 25 years before adjusting her status.
Education:
- Ed.D. Educational Leadership, San Francisco State University (in progress)
- M.S. Counseling in Higher Education, San Francisco State University
- B.A. Psychology, San Jose State University
