Deborah D. Grijalva, Ed.D.

Dr. Deborah D. Grijalva is a distinguished Educational Leader, Mentor, DEI Advocate, Agent of Change, Professor, Speaker, Researcher, and Local Cosmopolitan, with a relentless drive to revolutionize higher education and empower underrepresented communities. Armed with a recent Doctor of Educational Leadership degree from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), Dr. Grijalva is on a mission to dismantle barriers and champion equity in academia.

With over 15 years of profound experience in higher education, Dr. Grijalva currently holds the esteemed position of Senior Director at the Student Success Center at the University of Redlands, where she spearheads initiatives to enhance student outcomes and foster inclusivity.

Dr. Grijalva's commitment to academia extends beyond the classroom as she serves as an Ed.D. Doctoral Mentor at California State University-San Bernardino, guiding aspiring leaders through their dissertation phase and nurturing their scholarly endeavors.

Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Grijalva has held various administrative roles, including Executive MBA Coordinator and Interm Director, demonstrating her versatility and leadership acumen. Her dedication to student success is further evidenced by her tenure as a Financial Aid Assistant, where she provided invaluable guidance and support to students navigating the complexities of financial aid.

Dr. Grijalva's scholarly pursuits are fueled by her unwavering commitment to social justice and educational equity. Her research, notably focused on bridging the enrollment gap for first-generation Latina students in graduate school, has been published in esteemed journals such as the Journal of Latinos and Education. Moreover, she actively contributes to the academic community through presentations at professional conferences, where she shares insights on topics ranging from imposter syndrome to graduate school awareness.

Beyond her academic endeavors, Dr. Grijalva is deeply engaged in community service. She serves on numerous boards and committees dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her leadership roles include co-chairing the Student Success Retention Working Group and founding the C.U.L.T.U.R.A. Latino Staff & Faculty Organization at the University of Redlands.

Dr. Deborah D. Grijalva epitomizes resilience, compassion, and visionary leadership in higher education. Her unwavering dedication to empowering marginalized communities and fostering academic excellence serves as a beacon of inspiration for future generations.Walker, C. (2020, November 5-8). Inclusive leadership in INGO, multinational teams: Creating attentive space for diverse contributions. International Leadership Association Conference, San Francisco (Virtual).

• Hispanic Serving Institution Working Group, University of Redlands - January 2024 Role: Member
• Student Success Retention Working Group, University of Redlands - November 2023 – Present – Role: Co-Chair
• Summer Term Scholarship Committee, University of Redlands - March 2023 Role: Chair
• Alpha Xi Omicron, University of Redlands - February 2023 – December 2023 – Role: Advisor
• C.U.L.T.U.R.A. Latino Staff & Faculty Organization, University of Redlands - October 2022 – Present Role: Elected Vice-President Founder
• Latin America Student & Alumni Association (LASAA), University of Redlands - September 2022 – Present – Role: Advisor
• University of Redlands Staff and Administration Assembly - Communications Committee, University of Redlands - May 2022 – December 2023 – Role: Member
• Advising Working Group for Retention Working Group, University of Redlands - May 2022 – June 2023 – Role: Member
• Career Alliance Group, Office of Career and Professional Development, University of Redlands - March 2022 – February 2024 – Role: Member
• Summer Term Scholarship Committee, University of Redlands - March 2022 Role: Chair
• Dr. Martin Luther King Steering Committee, University of Redlands - 2022 – 2023 – Role: Member
• University-wide Council on Inclusiveness & Community - October 2021 – December 2023 – Role: Member
• Referral Process Committee - University of Redlands - October 2021 – June 2023 – Role: Member
• School of Continuing Studies – Curriculum Committee - University of Redlands - October 2020 – September 2023 – Role: Non-voting Member
• Summer Term Scholarship Committee, University of Redlands - March 2021 – Role: Chair

Presentations and Professional Conferences

3rd Annual Latina Leaders Actualizing Agency Conference – Latina Alumni Panel – CSU, San Bernardino - November 2023 – Panelist

First-Generation Faculty in the Academy and the University: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Prospects – University of Redlands - March 2023 – Panelist

“Celebrating and Telling Our Stories,” Women’s History Month kick-off – CSU, San Bernardino - March 2023 – Speaker

I Have a Degree. Now What? – Latino Alumni Chapter – CSU, San Bernardino - June 2022 – Presenter – Topic: Post-Graduate Opportunities

CSUSB Alumni Professional Development Workshops – CSU, San Bernardino - April 2021 – Presenter – Topic: Power of Professional Networking

Student Leadership Conference – CSU, San Bernardino - March 2019 – Co-Presenter – Topic: Overcoming the Academic Monster – IMPOSTER SYNDROME

8th Annual “Meeting of the Minds” Student Research Symposium – CSU, San Bernardino - May 2019 – Panel Presenter – Topic: Social Interactions of International Scholars: Lessons Framed using Student Identity Development Theory by a Doctoral Community of Practice

Sixteenth International Symposium on Social Communication – The Center for Applied Linguistics of Santiago de Cuba’s branch of Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment - January 2019 – Panel Presenter – Topic: Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership – A Community of Practice

16th Annual Graduate Student Research & Scholarship Symposium – CSU, San Bernardino – College of Education - May 2018 – Round Table Presenter – Topic: Bridging the Gap: Looking at Traditional Graduate School Enrollment for First-Generation Latinas at a Hispanic Serving Institution

WorkAbility IV – Careers in Business and Public Administration Panel - October 2017 – Panel Presenter – Topic: Careers in Business and Public Administration Panel Discussion with CSU, San Bernardino’s Faculty and Staff.

7TH Seoul Case Study Program, January 2012 – CSU, San Bernardino in Collaboration with University of Seoul and Seoul Metropolitan Government; Seoul, South Korea - March 2012

Publications

Grijalva, D. (2021). Serving our Latinx community [Blog]. Retrieved from https://www.redlands.edu/bulldog-blog/2021/july-2021/serving-our-latinx-community/ 

Grijalva, D. D. (2020). Graduate School Awareness for First-generation Latinas: Cracking the Glass Ceiling-A Validation Study. Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. 987. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/987 

Grijalva, D. D. (2018). Self-ethnography of a Latina. Journal of Latinos and Education, 1-2.