Staff/Contact Info

Educational Background:

• B.S. Child Development
• M.A. Education

About Me:

The narratives of students within this university serve as my inspiration. Growing up in a sizable immigrant family, I find common ground with many of the students here. Witnessing the dedication and passion our students exhibit in serving their communities fills me with pride as a Toro! I firmly believe in the ethos of diligence, enjoyment, and fostering meaningful connections throughout life's journey.

“As the proverb says, ‘Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.’"

Educational Background:

• B.A. Human Services

About me:

As a proud graduate of CSU Dominguez Hills, I hold the esteemed title of being an alumnus of Jumpstart for Young Children. Armed with a Bachelor's degree in Human Services, I am passionate about collaborating with my fellow Toros and leveraging my experience as a Jumpstart alumnus to contribute to our community. Additionally, I had the privilege of serving as the President of the Native American Indian Association, where I actively worked to promote cultural awareness and support initiatives within the Native American community. 

About me:

Maria Avila has worked in higher education for over two decades as an administrator and as faculty. Prior to higher education she worked as a social worker and as a community organizer. Her organizing work with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF, https://www.industrialareasfoundation.org) in South Los Angeles and in Northern California is the foundation of her work as a community engaged scholar. Until August 2022, she was Associate Professor in the Social Work department at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Maria was a postdoctoral, Andrew W. Mellon Fellow with the Center for Diversity and Democracy and taught in the department of American Studies and Ethnicity from 2012 to 2014, at the University of Southern California. Prior to this, she was the founding Director of the Center for Community Based Learning at Occidental College, from 2001 to 2011. Maria believes that higher education has a mandate to contribute to supporting and enhancing democracy, particularly through community engaged teaching and research, and by creating more collaborative cultures within academic institutions and with organizations with whom them partner.

She earned a MA in Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago, and a PhD in Adult and Community Education at Maynooth University, in Ireland. Maria is the recipient of a Fulbright award in Ireland and another one in Colombia. During her time as faculty as CSUDH she led five community engaged research projects on and off campus. These five projects are focus of her recent publication Building Collective Leadership for Culture Change: Stories of Relational Organizing (2023). This is a continuation of her first book: Transformative Civic Engagement through Community Organizing (2017).

Educational Background:

• B.S. Child Development
• M.A. Education

Natalie Gomez
Associate Manager
(310) 243-3050
ngomez59@csudh.edu

Educational Background:

• B.S. Child Development

About Me:

I am a proud graduate of Dominguez Hills, and I also have the honor of being an alumnus of Jumpstart for Young Children. My degree in Child Development with a focus on Family Services perfectly complements my experience with Jumpstart. I thoroughly enjoy collaborating with my fellow Toros in our shared endeavors.

Educational Background:

• B.A. Liberal Studies: Early Teaching and Learning

About me: 

As a proud first-generation alumna of CSUDH, I began my journey as a student assistant on campus, which eventually led me to join the College Corps Team. Drawing from my own experiences on campus, I find great fulfillment in collaborating with our fellows as they contribute to the community that has enriched my own life in countless ways.