Xiomara Mateo-Gaxiola
- Adjunct Associate Professor
Education
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Doctor of Education, Educational Leadership
Concentration: Teacher Education in Multi-cultural Societies
Chair: Dr. Maria Guiterrez Ott
Dissertation Title: The Relationships Between Teacher Beliefs about Diversity and Opportunities for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students, Reflectiveness, and Teacher Self-Efficacy
Pepperdine University, Culver City, CA
Master of Education, Educational Leadership
California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Bachelor of Science, International Business Management
Concentration: Global Strategy & Law
Expertise
- Program Design, Professional Development/Learning, Teacher Education, Critical Reflection, Teacher Self-efficacy, Organizational Resilience, Community Schools, Curriculum & Instruction, Non-profit Leadership
Bio
Dr. Xiomara Mateo-Gaxiola is a first-generation college graduate, educator, strategist, and advocate dedicated to advancing educational equity through systems change, community engagement, and culturally responsive leadership. Her current research interests include critical reflection and storytelling as the nourishing source of creativity, innovation, and collective uplift. Her leadership centers sustainable positive conditions that educators, children, families, and communities need to thrive. With more than 20 years of experience across K–12 and higher education, she brings deep expertise in program design, professional learning, and policy implementation that supports diverse students, educators, and schools.
Currently serving as Director of Community Engagement and Adjunct Associate Professor at the USC Rossier School of Education, she leads initiatives that prepare educators and leaders to respond to the most pressing challenges in education—ranging from breakthrough leadership to organizational resilience practices and inclusive school culture. She has successfully led large-scale, grant-funded projects and secured over $16 million to support sustainable school transformation.
Awards and Grants
- Nonprofit of the Year, San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, Angles Gate Cultural Center (Board Chair)
- Gladys Campbell Doctoral Research Fellow, USC Rossier School of Education
- USC Dean’s Doctoral Research Fellow, USC Rossier School of Education, USC
- Teacher of the Year, Lakewood Elementary School, Paramount Unified School District
- AISEC Award of Excellence, CalPoly San Luis Obispo, CA
Contracts/Grants
CA DOE California School Leadership Academy (CSLA21), LAEP, 2020-2023
Annenberg Foundation Transform Schools Grant, LAEP, 2020
US DOE Full-service Community Schools Grant, LAEP, 2018-2023
Wells Fargo College & Career Grant , LAEP, 2018-2020
FEDCO Foundation Teacher Project Grants, LAEP, 2018-2020
School Improvement Grant (SIG), LAEP, 2017-2020
Kaiser Permanente National & California RISE Pilot, LAEP, 2017-2020
Stuart Foundation General Operating Grant, LAEP, 2016-2020
Southern California Gas STEM Grant, LAEP, 2016-2020
Edison International Algebra 1 Grant, LAEP, 2016-2020
Collins Foundation College & Career Grant, LAEP, 2016-2020
Stuart Foundation Network Grant, LAEP, 2016-2020
Hannon Foundation College & Career Grant, LAEP, 2016-2020
United Way, LAEP, 2016-2019
US DOE Full-service Community Schools Grant (Reporting), LAEP, 2014-2019
Certifications
- Specialization in Social-Emotional Learning Facilitation (SEL*F), Mindfulness, & 200-Hour Foundational Yoga Teacher (CYT-200) Certificate, B4C
- Foundations for Leadership, Society for Organizational Learning, MIT
- Cognitive Coaching Certificate, Thinking Collaborative, UCLAx
- Adaptive Schools Certificate, Thinking Collaborative, LAEP
- Tier 1 Administrative Credential, Certificate of Eligibility, CTC
- Foundational Mathematics, Single Subject CA Teaching Credential, CTC
- Multiple Subjects CA Teaching Credential, CTC