Mario (he/him) was born in El Salvador and immigrated to Los Angeles in 1985. Grounded in the values set by his parents, he was the first in his family to attend and graduate from college. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of San Francisco with a minor in Latin American Studies, a Master’s of Education in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix and a Master’s of Education in School Administration from Loyola Marymount University. Mario has worked in education for over 14 years in parochial and public charter schools in Los Angeles. Most recently, he founded KIPP Corazón Academy Upper School, a middle school with a vision of social justice and equity through anti-racist pedagogy and policies. Mario is currently finishing his PhD in Education for Social Justice at the University of San Diego. He is a research assistant and university supervisor as he finishes his research on supporting retention of Latino men in education. Additionally, he has created Critically Educated Consulting to support schools and organizations with their work in critical consciousness. Currently, Mario is the Director of Engagements for the Equity Lab supporting organizations with Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion training, coaching, and development cycles of learning and unlearning. Mario enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, adding to the stockpile of unfinished books, watching movies, and working out when he has free time.