Maria Palafox

Earned B.A. in Anthropology at California State University Fullerton, and previously attended Cypress Community College and earned an associate degree in Spanish and Anthropology. As a former mentor for incoming high school students at Cypress College, I gained insight into the academic and personal challenges students often face in their transition from highschool to college. This experience fueled my interest and commitment to supporting students so they may over these barriers. Briefly interned at KidWorks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing at-risk youth with access to educational resources to inspire higher educational aspirations. The role as a College Success Initiative intern further allowed me to hone in my skills in fostering an encouraging and supportive learning environment. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I worked as a tutor in diverse settings, including traditional classrooms and non-traditional institutions like a juvenile detention center. This experience reinforced the importance of inclusive, constructive, and consistent support systems for students, emphasizing that such systems are crucial for their success in post-secondary education. 

Worked as a tutor at Los Padrinos Juvenile Detention Hall. Instructional Provider Assistant within the Santa Ana School District and Centraila School District. 

B.A. in anthropology and A.A. In Spanish and Anthropology