Marie Fielder Center
for Democracy, Leadership, and Education
Dr. Marie Fielder was one of the most influential women in the history of California education.
The Marie Fielder Center
Dr. Marie Fielder
The Marie Fielder Center for Democracy, Leadership, and Education aims to promote research that tackles current educational and social issues. It offers a collaborative space for Fielding’s faculty, students, and alumni from various disciplines to participate in research, public discussions, and advocacy focused on advancing democracy, leadership, and education. The center upholds Marie Fielder’s values of transformative change for social justice, drawing inspiration from her life’s work and contributions to inclusive excellence in education.
Key initiatives of the Fielder Center include:
- Marie Fielder Graduate and Alumni Fellows (learn more)
- The Fielder Medal for Social Transformation (learn more)
- The Orlando Taylor Award for Excellence in Research (learn more)
Beyond these core programs, the Fielder Center also sponsors publications, special events, and other endeavors that align with its mission of promoting research, advocacy, and practical efforts for social change.
The Center’s activities are overseen by an advisory council, which guides its work to address societal needs and challenges.
Dr. Katherine McGraw leads the Fielder Center in her role as Fielding Graduate University’s Associate Provost for Research, Extramural Funding, and Faculty Development.
The Marie Fielder Center for Democracy, Leadership, and Education Advisory Council Members are:
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Lenneal Henderson, Professor, Leadership Studies, Fielding Graduate University
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Patricia Arrendondo, President Arredondo Advisory Group
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Susan Eddington, Alumna, Media Psychology Program and Fielder Fellow alumna, Fielding Graduate University
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Anthony Greene, Professor, School of Psychology
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Carlos Grijalva, Associate Dean Emeritus, UCLA Graduate School
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Sharon Hutchins, former Vice President and Chief of AI+ Data Operations, Intuit, Inc.
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Margo Okazawa Rey, Professor, Human and Organization Development Fielding Graduate University
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Kelly Mack, Vice President for Undergraduate STEM Education and Executive Director of Project Kaleidoscope at the American Association of Colleges & Universities
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Carlos Santiago, Commissioner Emeritus, Massachusetts State Department of Higher Education.
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Ron Mason, President Emeritus, University of the District of Columbia
About Dr. Marie Fielder
Dr. Marie Fielder was one of the most influential women in the history of California education.
Dr. Marie Fielder was one of the most influential women in the history of California education. Through her vision and commitment to justice throughout her lifetime and 60-year career, Dr. Fielder inspired many and left an indelible mark on the entire nation.
She was the first African American woman with a doctorate to teach in the San Francisco Bay Area and one of the first researchers who documented cultural bias in IQ tests. She helped the Berkeley public schools become the first in the nation to desegregate through two-way busing—one of her proudest accomplishments. She was also a member of the Founding Board of Trustees at Fielding.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Dr. Fielder contributed to the work of such civil rights leaders as Martin Luther King Jr. and Whitney Young. She also advised numerous government and civil-rights organizations.
MARIE FIELDER ADVISORY COUNCIL
Advisory Council Members
Marie Fielder Advisory Council Members meet in Santa Barbara, California, to discuss pressing issues for the Marie Fielder Center for Democracy, Leadership, and Education.
Marie Fielder Center News
The latest news, announcements, and special events from The Marie Fielder Center for Democracy, Leadership, and Education.
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