Unfortunately, Black and Latinx students are being woefully underserved in California’s public schools. Black students are suspended at higher rates and score at the bottom of every measure on standardized tests. On the other hand, their Latinx counterparts share high suspension rates and score marginally better, but still do not meet the standards. Research shows that K-12 students in California, particularly students of color, experience better outcomes when they're in schools led by educators of color — but far too often that just isn't the case. In California, over 60% of public school students are Black or Latinx, and yet less than 25% of schools had a Black or Latinx leader. That needs to change.

THE DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AIMS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Borne out of work that began in 2017 to address issues of representation, equity and inclusion, the Diversity in Leadership Institute recognizes these results do not speak to the ability of Black and Latinx students. Instead, they highlight the collective failure of the system to meet the needs of our students. 

With this in mind, the DLI is dedicated to increasing racial diversity, equity, inclusion and cultural competence among charter school and district administrators as a means to increase academic and social outcomes for Black and Latinx students in California.

OUR MISSION

The Diversity in Leadership Institute’s mission is to create equitable outcomes for Black and Latinx students by building a movement of racially diverse and culturally competent public
education leaders.

OUR vision

The Diversity in Leadership Institute will increase the number of racially diverse and culturally competent educational leaders in California, creating more equitable public school systems, and contributing to the improved academic, social and emotional well being of youth, particularly Black and Latinx students.

MEET OUR TEAM

DR. LAURA MCGOWAN-ROBINSON,
FOUNDER AND CEO

Dr. McGowan-Robinson began the work of mentoring and retaining diverse school leaders while serving in the role of Senior Vice President of Regional Advocacy and later as Chief Operating Officer at the California Charter Schools Association, which later spun off the Diversity in Leadership Institute into its own 501(c)(3). Before serving as the group's COO, McGowan-Robinson founded and served as Executive Director of Crown Preparatory Academy, a middle school in South Los Angeles, which is now part of the STEM Prep Schools network. A life-long educator, McGowan-Robinson began her teaching career as a Chicago Public Schools teacher before moving west and becoming a high school English teacher and literacy coach with the Los Angeles Unified School District. 

McGowan-Robinson earned her Bachelor’s degree in English/Rhetoric from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master’s Degree in Instructional Leadership in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and her doctorate in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from Loyola Marymount University. 

The mission to support more Black and Latinx people to become school leaders is the culmination of a dream that began on a field in Mississippi before McGowan-Robinson was even born. Named after her grandmother — Laura Woodley, who had to drop out of school in the 6th grade to pick cotton, clean the homes of white people, and help care for her siblings after her mother's untimely death — McGowan-Robinson's family preached the value of education. Though her grandparents never finished school, McGowan-Robinson's grandmother was a voracious reader and natural teacher, and was the catalyst for her granddaughter's career in education. In 2010, McGowan-Robinson founded a school in her grandmother's honor (Laura means "crown"), and today, she continues her mission to help Black and Latinx children succeed, both in and out of the classroom. 

DR. MARIA L. COVARRUBIAS,
VP OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Maria L. Covarrubias has extensive experience in leading schools and districts through major instructional improvement initiatives. Prior to earning a Doctorate in Education from USC, she earned a B.A. in Child Development from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Master’s in Education from Harvard University. 

Maria’s dedication to education and advocacy stems from her experiences as a young girl growing up in East Los Angeles, California. Daughter of Mexican immigrant parents, she experienced first-hand the impact of racial inequity, low expectations and limited resources. Her experience as a first-generation student is what drove Maria to effect change in schools across California.

Maria is a school founder and more recently, she served as consultant to school districts on improving college readiness for high school students. Maria’s leadership has been shaped by numerous conversations she’s had with students, parents and community leaders that have desired much more than what students have been offered in the past. In her new role as VP of Leadership Development, she will encourage the flow and exchange of ideas, and lead greater academic discourse among K-12 school leaders on current and pressing issues to ensure that students of all racial, language, and economic backgrounds can attain high educational goals.

EBONY WHEATON, J.D.,
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY AND STRATEGY, AND INTERIM CHIEF OF STAFF

Ebony Wheaton is an education law, policy and advocacy expert with over 10 years of experience across diverse sectors. In her role as Chief of Staff (Interim) for Diversity in Leadership Institute (DLI), she serves as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and leads organizational operations functions. Ebony also serves as Managing Director of Strategy and Advocacy for DLI, leading local and statewide advocacy campaigns to grow the pipeline of diverse TK-12 school administrators across California in collaboration with the DLI Charting the Course to Equity Coalition.

Prior to this, Ebony served for over 5 years as Director of Advocacy for the California Charter Schools Association where she represented over 300 public schools serving approximately 100,000 students in southern California in matters of student equity and access. Notably, in this role she advocated for and secured increased funding for quality public school facilities, including over $100 million in local school bonds for construction, expansion, and improvement projects, and over $5 million for school furniture, fixtures and equipment.

Ebony also worked in the legal sector as a zealous advocate for children, families, and indigent clients with the Office of the Attorney General in Washington, D.C. and, thereafter, with the Orleans Public Defenders Office in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Ebony is an alumna of the University of Miami where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration. She is also an alumna of Howard University School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate. She is a native of Washington, D.C., but spent most of her career in Southern California. She has an unrelenting passion for people, and in particular, for communities that have been subjected to systemic and institutionalized forms of oppression. Ultimately, it is her desire to leave a legacy as a servant leader and an agent for change.

SHERIFA MIRANDA-TIAMIYU,
FELLOWSHIP DIRECTOR

Sherifa Miranda-Tiamiyu began her career as a special education teacher in Oakland Unified School District and San Francisco Unified School District.  She then became a Safe and Supportive Schools Coach within SFUSD. In this role, she consulted with administrators and instructional leadership teams to analyze school-wide data, develop mission and vision statements, create equity-based school improvement goals, build equitable school systems,  and implement restorative practices and positive behavior interventions and supports.  She also facilitated district-wide training in implicit bias, culturally responsive pedagogy, restorative practices, and crisis de-escalation. During this time, she was also an induction coach and fieldwork instructor supporting teacher candidates receiving special education credentials and taught seminar and methods classes for Loyola Marymount University. She then became an administrator and worked at the early childhood, elementary, and middle school levels. She has collaborated with several community-based organizations, after-school programs, and pre-service programs to provide diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops and culturally-responsive pedagogy training.

Sherifa has been a Restorative Practitioner and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) facilitator for the past 20 years. She has been a trainer of trainers for the past 10 years and has facilitated 100s of hours of Restorative Practices, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, Crisis De-escalation, Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, and DEI trainings within school districts and throughout the Bay Area. She has a strong anti-racist lens and believes that representation and voice are critical for all stakeholders within an educational system.

On a personal note, Sherifa is a nature lover and foodie.  You would likely find her hiking, walking around Lake Merritt, engaging in water sports, and enjoying the many great restaurants in the Bay. She is a home chef and loves to cook and bake. She enjoys creating fusion recipes using spices from her Nigerian culture. She also enjoys traveling and bringing home spices and recipes from her travels.

YVETTE MEZA-VEGA,
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Yvette Meza-Vega brings a wealth of K-12 education and non-profit experience focused on maximizing impact, fostering equity, and increasing access. Her commitment to educational, racial, and socio-economic equity is deeply rooted in her upbringing in Santa Ana, CA as a first-generation college graduate and daughter of immigrants.

Yvette began her career as an educator through Teacher For America (TFA) in Detroit and continued cultivating her teaching craft in Boston and Los Angeles. While in Boston, Yvette also served as Interim Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Excel Academy Charter HS where she substantially increased staff diversity and spearheaded the redevelopment of a comprehensive DEI strategic plan, creating an environment that prioritized student belonging and inclusivity. Since then she has launched the TFA Detroit Summer Impact Fellowship, coached and mentored educators across Massachusetts, and in her most recent role at TFA Los Angeles, Yvette played a crucial role in reactivating hundreds of alumni, amplifying the impact of the organization.

She frequently leverages new opportunities to expand her learning and leadership. Most recently, Yvette completed a 4.0 Schools Fellowship where she led a financial literacy workshop in collaboration with Loyola Marymount University - Chicano Latino Student Services, empowering students of color with essential life skills. Currently, she serves as a Founding Alumni Council member and West Coast Regional Captain at Latinos for Education. Yvette also holds a Master’s in Educational Studies from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California Los Angeles.

CHINEDU UDEH,
SO CAL FELLOWSHIP DIRECTOR

Chinedu Udeh began her career as a 4th-grade teacher with Teach For America in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Following her TFA service, she joined KIPP Empower Academy as part of the founding 4th-grade team. At KIPP Empower, Chinedu served as a Grade Level Chair, Instructional Coach, and eventually School Principal. During her seven-year tenure as Principal, she led KIPP Empower to significant academic growth, supported neighborhood community improvement efforts, launched a community school model, and played a key role in developing leadership pipelines at both the school and regional level. Chinedu’s deep commitment to equity and anti-racism was at the heart of her leadership. She was instrumental in advancing KIPP’s vision of education as a tool for liberation, contributing to the development of the organization’s anti-racism standards.

Chinedu holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Dartmouth College and a Master’s degree in Education from Columbia University. Her strategic vision, passion for culturally affirming leadership, and focus on data-driven decision-making have fostered thriving, inclusive learning environments for underserved communities. She remains dedicated to ensuring all students have access to high-quality educational opportunities.

GABRIELLE S. GRAY MANAGER,
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Gabrielle, a native of Southern California from Long Beach, CA, brings a wealth of diverse experience in the nonprofit and workforce development sectors. Her values of commitment and dedication are driven by a deep passion for empowering the next generation of Black and Latinx leaders, striving to advance higher education and economic prosperity by addressing systemic racial disparities.

Gabrielle began her career in the sports and entertainment industry, serving as Group Sales and Hospitality Manager for the Atlanta Braves Baseball Club. In this role, she curated unique, specialized experiences for customers and high-end clientele, enhancing their enjoyment of baseball events. During her time with the Braves, she championed diversity and inclusion, establishing a Core Values Committee to promote representation and leadership across the organization, benefiting both internal and external stakeholders.

Gabrielle later returned to her hometown of Long Beach, CA, transitioning into the workforce development and philanthropic sectors. She became a strong advocate for young adults of color, providing career training pathways and corporate internship opportunities in Los Angeles, Austin, and San Francisco. Her proven leadership skills—as a problem solver, thought leader, relationship builder, and effective communicator—set her apart as a compassionate and empathetic leader, earning her recognition as a beacon of joy.

Gabrielle holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Spanish from San Diego State University. In her free time, she is an active volunteer in organizations around the greater Long Beach area, enjoys international travel, and is passionate about Dodgers baseball, basketball, and Orangetheory Fitness.

NOMSA MLAMBO,
MANAGER OF SPECIAL PROJECTS & ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Nomsa Mlambo is the Manager of Special Projects at the Diversity in Leadership Institute (DLI). In this role she is responsible for the efficient and effective management of projects, events, processes and systems at DLI. Nomsa earned her B.A. in Business Administration from the City University of New York and her M.B.A. in Human Resources from Mercy College in New York. Nomsa is excited about and firmly believes in the work that DLI is doing, and is proud to support it.

MEET OUR BOARD

The Diversity in Leadership Institute is led by and draws strength from a diverse, mission-driven and committed group of volunteer Board members, who represent the connection between education and social justice in California, including higher education, TK-12 public education, education policy and philanthropy sector professionals, community organizers, and members of the business sector.

MANNY A. ACEVES ED.D.

Dr. Manny A. Aceves provides oversight, vision, and strategy.

JENNIFER L. CHILDRESS

Jennifer L. Childress helps organizations make a positive impact in the world.

OSCAR CRUZ

Oscar E. Cruz brings more than 20 years of non-profit experience to DLI.

CARLOS MARQUEZ III

Carlos Marquez III’s is a trusted leader across various equity movements.

Emeritus Board Members

Loyola Marymount University, School of Education

The faculty, staff and students of the School of Education strive to work collaboratively in a student-centered environment.

Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC)

A membership organization dedicated to elevating the leadership, voices and influence of people of color in education and to leading more inclusive efforts to improve education.

Association of California School Administrators

The largest umbrella organization for school leaders in the U.S., serving more than 17,000 CA educators.

Educators for Excellence (E4E)

Ensures that teachers have a leading voice in the policies that impact their students and profession.

United Negro College Fund

To increase the number of African American college graduates by focusing on activities that ensure more students are college-ready, enroll in college and persist to graduation.

Teach for America: Los Angeles

Works in partnership with the Los Angeles community to ensure that all children receive an excellent education.

California Charter Schools Association

Advances the charter school movement through state and local advocacy, leadership on accountability, and resources for member schools. 

Alliance for a Better Community

A Los Angeles-based advocacy organization that works towards creating equitable outcomes for the Latino community in the region. They focus on four key areas: K-12 and higher education, civic engagement, economic prosperity, and health.

Innovate Public Schools

Working to make sure that all students receive a world-class public education that prepares them for success in college, careers and beyond.

EdTrust-West

Focused on educational justice and closing achievement and opportunity gaps from preschool through college through research, data, policy analysis, and advocacy.

Center for Powerful Public Schools

Providing personalized services to public schools and districts in Greater Los Angeles and across California, and equipping educators to create an equitable classroom experience.

Center for Black Educator Development

Increases the number of Black teachers in public district and charter schools and promotes anti-discriminatory, culturally-responsive educational practices.

Watts of Power Foundation

Creating a pipeline of Black male teachers

National Charter Collaborative

Supporting single-site charter schools led by people of color so the schools can have the support they need to foster success in their students.

Families in Action

Founded in 2019 to bring attention to the education disparities and to urgently increase access to quality schools and equitable resources.

Black Educator Advocates Network

BEAN is an organization transforming the environment, practices and policies that affect the educational experience for Black educators, administrstors, students, and parents.

EdVoice

Reshaping public education in California by changing state policy so that children from low-income communities receive high-quality educations.