Max Espinoza, HGSE

Max Espinoza is pursuing a Master’s in Education with a concentration in education policy and management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Max is committed to expanding educational opportunity, creating more equitable systems and practices, and ensuring racial and economic justice.

A first-generation college graduate from a working-class immigrant family, Max holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). As a student activist at UCLA, Max was twice elected by the undergraduate student body to represent them as the Academic Affairs Commissioner and served as the Student Regent on the systemwide University of California Board of Regents. In these roles, Max increased student voice in academic matters, advanced curricular reforms, improved student retention services, and advocated for more inclusive university admissions policies and outreach practices.

Professionally, Max has worked in government, served as a non-profit executive and is a leader in the philanthropic sector. As a policy advisor to California’s legislative leadership and a state agency executive, Max successfully shaped policy and fiscal priorities to advance educational equity and also streamlined the state’s management of financial aid programs to better serve students. Nationally, Max has effectively managed and supported multi-state and federal policy and advocacy initiatives. Max currently serves as a senior program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he focuses on building the political and public will for economic mobility and education reforms that close equity gaps.

Past Chairs of Policy

• Max Espinoza (HGSE) 2021-2022
• Cynthia Ahmed (HLS), 2020-2021
• Geena Parvaiz Saleh 2019-2020
• Melina Kim, 2018-2019
• Kelly Ramirez, 2017-2018
• Nidhin Vidyan, 2016-2017