Donate
Donate

Mariel Matze

Associate Director of Communications

Mariel (she/her/hers) joins EdTrust-West with a background in K-12 education and expertise in writing, storytelling, press relations, and public speaking. She helps advance EdTrust’s mission by serving as a point person for the media, coordinating high-profile speaking engagements, and supporting content development. Before joining EdTrust-West, Mariel consulted schools, philanthropic foundations, afterschool providers, and social impact businesses on a wide range of messaging and engagement strategies. Before consulting, she served as a press assistant on Rep. Lauren Underwood’s (IL-14) first congressional campaign, where she headed up key communications projects, from television commercial shoots to election night public relations. Before joining the campaign, she ran the marketing department of an education technology company dedicated to empowering school districts to serve students more equitably using data. Before developing a specialty in communications, she worked as a journalist and researcher. Mariel holds a B.A. in African American Studies from Wesleyan University.

 

Email Me

  • Oakland, CA
Public Relations

At EdTrust-West, we believe a different California is possible:

a California that ensures that Black, Latinx, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native American students’ futures are as bright as their dreams are big. We believe that our state’s schools, colleges, and universities can form the bedrock of a more just California.

Committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in California’s education system.

California Offices: Oakland, Los Angeles, Sacramento

National Office: EdTrust

State Offices: EdTrust-New York, EdTrust-Tennessee, EdTrust-Midwest

Tel: 510.465.6444

Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Linkedin

Help Us Improve: Quick 3-Question Survey
Read our Accessibility Statement

Karla Fernandez

Communications Manager

Karla Fernandez (she/her/hers) joins Ed Trust–West as a Communications Manager with over 11 years of experience advancing social impact initiatives.

Karla started her career as a teacher at Chicago Public Schools and UIC College Prep. After teaching, Karla joined United Friends of the Children to support LA County’s youth in foster care as a college counselor. Through Leadership for Educational Equity, Karla also served as a Policy Advisor Fellow for the office of a Los Angeles Unified School Board Member. She solidified her interests in policy analysis and quantitative research during her time with the Price Center for Social Innovation, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, and the USC Presidential Working Group on Sustainability. Before joining The Education Trust–West, Karla was the Associate Director for the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative, a network of nonprofits advocating for communities in SELA.

Karla holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Chicago, a Master of Public Policy from the USC Price School of Public Policy, and a Graduate Certificate in Policy Advocacy from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Karla is based out of southern California and is passionate about using data analysis, communications, and digital strategies for policy advocacy and social justice efforts.