Dr. Claudia Canizales Aguilar

Dr. Claudia Canizales Aguilar immigrated from Nicaragua and is a first-generation college graduate. With the guidance of the Early Academic Outreach Program, Dr. Aguilar enrolled at UC Berkeley and earned a BA in Social Welfare. With the financial assistance of the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, she earned master's and doctoral degrees from the University of San Francisco. Through her capacity as a college professor, counselor, researcher, and college access practitioner and trainer, she has worked with students, families, teachers, counselors, and administrators throughout the K-16 pipeline to ensure students meet their academic and personal goals. Dr. Aguilar’s expertise lies in creating school counseling and college access programs that are equitable, systematic, student and family-centered, and effective in ensuring that students have an actionable post-secondary education plan. As the Director of Training and Curriculum for UC Berkeley’s Center for Educational Partnerships (CEP), Dr. Aguilar designs programs, tools, and professional development opportunities that support CEP’s college access goals