Dr. Maria Harper-Marinick has been in a leadership role at the Maricopa Community College District since 2002. Dr. Harper-Marinick devotes long hours each day of the week beyond the required 40 hour work-week, including evening and weekend tasks to meet her responsibilities. Additionally, she dedicates significant time to volunteer her expertise to her profession and serves on numerous local and national professional boards and councils related to education: Federal Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, National Community College Hispanic Council (President-Elect), American Association of Community Colleges, Arizona Minority Education Policy Analysis Center, and Latina Giving Circle to name a few. Dr. Harper-Marinick leads initiatives to enhance educational access and increase student success particularly at the community college level. She currently serves as Chancellor and champions higher education opportunities for thousands of students as well as to build the stature and recognition of the college district and its colleges locally, nationally, and internationally.