Hello, I’m Mariana G. Martinez, and I’m proud to call Sonoma County my home. Growing up in Santa Rosa, I navigated the public school system with the vital support of Upward Bound programs. These programs equipped me to compete, gain acceptance, and graduate from Sonoma State University (SSU) with a BA in Chicano and Latino Studies and Spanish. My initial aspiration to become a teacher evolved as I recognized broader systemic challenges that demanded attention.
Following four impactful years as an Outreach Coordinator/Advisor for Upward Bound, I pursued a master’s degree in Education, Curriculum, and Instruction at the University of the Pacific, and later obtained my Ph.D. in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016.
For over two decades, I have dedicated my career to educational settings spanning from kindergarten to doctoral education. I am deeply committed to serving predominantly students of color from low-income/working-class backgrounds—often first-generation learners. In the past decade, I was instrumental in founding the UndocuResource Center at Sonoma State University and establishing El Centro Latinx within the Chicano Studies Department where I also taught. Currently, I serve as the Director of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) at Mendocino College, where I reinstated the Dream Center amidst the challenges of the 2020 pandemic.
In 2016, I made history by becoming the first Latina elected to the Santa Rosa Junior College board of trustees — a position I was re-elected to in 2020. My commitment to advocacy extends beyond my roles in higher education; in late 2021, I launched my consulting firm, MGM PhD Consulting, LLC., focusing on supporting BIPOC non-profits through grant writing. Additionally, I established a scholarship named after my 9-year-old son, Xoaquin Yolotli, at my high school alma mater.
My journey exemplifies resilience, advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to equity and inclusion in education. My diverse experiences and unwavering dedication uniquely qualify me to continue making a meaningful impact in the educational landscape, ensuring that all students have access to opportunities that foster their success. I am excited to continue this work and humbly ask for your support in my re-election as Trustee for Santa Rosa Junior College. Together, we can build a brighter future for all our students.
