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 social 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 equity 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 mission of the Marie Fielder Center for Democracy, Leadership, and Education Advisory Council Members are:
Co-Chairs
- Lenneal Henderson, Professor, School of Leadership Studies, Fielding Graduate University
- Claudia Mitchell Kernan, Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Graduate Studies Emerita, UCLA
Internal Council Members
- Rich Appelbaum, Professor, School of Leadership Studies
- Anna DiStefano, Professor, School of Leadership Studies & Director, Worldwide Network for Gender Empowerment (WNGE)
- Placida Gallegos, Professor, School of Leadership Studies
- Anthony Greene, Professor, School of Psychology
- Margo Okazawa-Rey, Professor, School of Leadership Studies
- Mark Scanlon-Greene, School of Leadership Studies
External Council Members
- Patricia Arredondo, President, Arredondo Advisory Group
- Stacy Blake-Beard, Professor, Simmons College (Boston)
- Robert Corrigan, President Emeritus, San Francisco State University
- Carlos Grijalva, Associate Dean, UCLA Graduate School
- Sharon Hutchins, Vice President, Chief of AI+Data Operations, Intuit Inc.
- Kelly Mack, VP for University STEM Education, Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
- Camille McKayle, Provost and VP for Academic Affairs, University of the Virgin Islands
- Carlos Santiago, Sr. Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs, Massachusetts Department of Education
Ex-Officio Members
- Nicola Smith, Professor, School of Leadership Studies
- Orlando Taylor, Director, Marie Fielder Center and Distinguished Senior Advisor to the President
The mission of the Marie Fielder Center for Democracy, Leadership, and Education Advisory Council Members are:
Co-Chairs
- Lenneal Henderson, Professor, School of Leadership Studies, Fielding Graduate University
- Claudia Mitchell Kernan, Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Graduate Studies Emerita, UCLA
Internal Council Members
- Rich Appelbaum, Professor, School of Leadership Studies
- Anna DiStefano, Professor, School of Leadership Studies & Director, Worldwide Network for Gender Empowerment (WNGE)
- Placida Gallegos, Professor, School of Leadership Studies
- Anthony Greene, Professor, School of Psychology
- Margo Okazawa-Rey, Professor, School of Leadership Studies
- Mark Scanlon-Greene, School of Leadership Studies
External Council Members
- Patricia Arredondo, President, Arredondo Advisory Group
- Stacy Blake-Beard, Professor, Simmons College (Boston)
- Robert Corrigan, President Emeritus, San Francisco State University
- Carlos Grijalva, Associate Dean, UCLA Graduate School
- Sharon Hutchins, Vice President, Chief of AI+Data Operations, Intuit Inc.
- Kelly Mack, VP for University STEM Education, Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
- Camille McKayle, Provost and VP for Academic Affairs, University of the Virgin Islands
- Carlos Santiago, Sr. Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs, Massachusetts Department of Education
Ex-Officio Members
- Nicola Smith, Professor, School of Leadership Studies
- Orlando Taylor, Director, Marie Fielder Center and Distinguished Senior Advisor to the President
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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