Dr. Maria L. Covarrubias serves as Chief Program Officer at the Diversity in Leadership Institute, where she drives statewide program innovation and oversees the development of sustainable leadership pathways for educators of color. She architected and leads a flagship statewide fellowship that advances school leaders of color into credentialed leadership roles, strengthening the educator pipeline across California. She also oversees the School Leaders of Color Network, cultivating a powerful community of aspiring and sitting leaders committed to collective growth and systemic impact.

Dr. Covarrubias brings extensive experience guiding schools and districts through major instructional improvement efforts. A school founder and former district consultant, she has partnered with systems across California to strengthen leadership pipelines and improve college readiness outcomes for historically underserved students.

Her dedication to educational equity is deeply personal. Raised in East Los Angeles as the daughter of Mexican immigrant parents, Maria experienced firsthand the effects of racial inequity, low expectations, and limited resources. As a first-generation college student, she transformed those experiences into a lifelong commitment to expanding opportunity for students and leaders of color.

Dr. Covarrubias earned her Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California, a Master’s in Education from Harvard University, and a B.A. in Child Development from California State University, Los Angeles. Through her leadership, she continues to champion systems-level change that ensures students of all racial, linguistic, and economic backgrounds have access to high-quality education and empowered school leadership.