Maria Oropeza Fujimoto, PhD

Associate Professor
California State University, Los Angeles

Maria Oropeza Fujimoto is a scholar committed to partnering with educational leaders and institutions to transform the pipeline to higher education by: reimaging how education is engaged in; developing shared visions and equitable and inclusive processes that shift everyday practices, and builds capacity of leaders and community members.  Her approach to leadership development, research, and professional learning draws on critical frameworks and is rooted in focusing on values in decision making over outcome. As associate director of Educational Leadership at California State University Los Angeles, she develops opportunities to lead, impact and transforming how higher education leaders work with culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse populations to center the strengths of stakeholders. 

Prior to joining the faculty, she worked as a student affairs practitioner in the areas of leadership development, multicultural affairs, academic advising, and women’s issues. She has a comprehensive view of the programmatic, administrative, and fiscal aspects of programs and services. Her experience includes writing proposals and managing grants, faculty development, curriculum development, diversity workshops, developing strategic plans, restructuring and revitalizing programs, and program assessment. She completed her PhD in education at the University of Washington in Seattle and earned degrees from the University of Iowa and Marquette University.