Board of Directors

Executive Committee Officers (Elected Annually)

AAHHE Chair
James L. Rodriguez, PhD
2021-2027
Dean of Extended Education and Global Outreach
Special Assistant to the President for External Affairs
California State University, Bakersfield

AAHHE Chair-elect
Maria Oropeza Fujimoto, PhD
2025-2028
Associate Professor
California State University, Los Angeles

AAHHE Immediate Past Chair
Marissa Vasquez, EdD
2023-2026
Associate Professor
San Diego State University

AAHHE Treasurer
Magdalena Martinez, PhD
2024-2027
Associate Professor and Senior Policy Fellow
Rowan University

AAHHE Immediate Past Treasurer
Luis Ponjuán, PhD
2022-2027
Associate Professor
School of Education and Human Development
Department of Educational Admin & Human Resource Develop
Texas A&M University

Board Members

Sandra Bertram Grant, PhD
2026-2029
Assistant Professor
University of Denver

Luz N. Burgos-López, MS
AAHHE Graduate Student at Large
2025-2027
PhD Candidate, Neag School of Education
Assistant Dean of Students
University of Connecticut- Storrs

Jeanett Castellanos, PhD
2022-2028
Professor of Teaching
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies
University of California, Irvine

Alyssa Cervantes Benavides, PhD
AAHHE Faculty Member at Large
2025-2028
Managing Director, Interprofessional Education
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso)

Frances Contreras, PhD
2026-2029
Professor, School of Education
University of California, Irvine

David Fuentes, PhD
2024-2027
Dean
School of Education
Stockton University

Cristina García, MA
2025-2028
Founder & CEO
Conéctate Green Strategies, Bell Gardens, CA

Amber M. Gonzalez, PhD
2026-2029
Professor
California State University, Sacramento

Elsa M. Gonzalez, PhD
2026-2029
Associate Professor
College of Education & Human Development
Texas A&M University

Kimberly Gomez, MEd
2026-2028
Graduate Student Member at Large
Director of the Undocumented Student Resource Center
Sacramento State University

Jasmine Haywoood, PhD
2024-2027
Strategy Director
Lumina Foundation

Laura Ramírez, EdD
2025-2028
Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction
Pasadena Area Community College District

Naomi Ramirez, MA , PhD
2023-2028
Department of Education
San Diego State University

Cristóbal Rodriguez, PhD
2021-2027
Associate Provost for Equity-Centered Initiatives in Academic Affairs
Western Michigan University

Jasmin N. Tobar, PhD
2026-2029
AAHHE Faculty Member at Large
Lecturer
Department of Central American and Transborder Studies
California State University, Northridge

Board of Directors Photos

AAHHE Board of Directors at the 2023 AAHHE Conference

From left to right, back row: Dr. Cristobal Rodriguez; Dr. Marie Mora; Dr. Azara Santiago; Dr. Lucia Gutierrez; Dr. James Rodriguez; Dr. Luis Ponjuan.

From left to right, front row: Dr. Edith Fernandez; Dr. Edward Delgado-Romero; Ms. Monique Posadas; Dr. Patrick Valdez; Dr. Maria Oropeza Fujimoto and Dr. Gloria Martinez.