My name is Dr. Marcela Ramirez-Stapleton. I am a DEI consultant, public speaker and educational leader with 20 years of experience in higher education and public service. I am committed to educational equity and college access for all our youth. I am a college professor, community advocate and fierce Mami of a two year old who is going to change the world. I want to inspire all of us to become social advocates, change makers, and dream weavers.

I have a strong base of experience in diversity initiatives and multicultural affairs practice and research. One of my proudest endeavors was serving as the Founding Director of the Middle Eastern Student Center at the University of California, Riverside; the first cultural center of its kind in the UC System and in California. I also served as President of the California Council of Cultural Centers in Higher Education (CaCCCHE 2017-2020). CaCCCHE is a network of higher education leaders committed to social justice and educational equity.

I am a University of California (UC) Regent Emerita who served a two year term (2015-2017). During my doctoral studies, I was appointed by the UC Board of Regents to serve as the 42nd Student Regent and was involved in higher education policy and advocacy work at the state and federal level.

For my years of community advocacy and involvement, I was recognized as a “Woman of Distinction” by Jose Medina, California State Assembly Member and Chair of the Higher Education Committee. I am also a CA Educational Policy Alumna and HOPE Latinas fellow who remains involved in statewide higher education policy work.

I received my Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Policy at the University of California, Riverside. I received an M.S. in counseling with an emphasis on student development and higher education from California State University, Long Beach, and received my B.A in Economics and French from California State University, Fullerton.