María J. Schmidt

Professional Bio

María J. Schmidt is Assistant Dean for Education & Social Equity at Penn State's College of Education. A native of Puerto Rico and a State College resident for the last 33 years, María is dedicated to addressing issues on educational and social equity. She has exercised several leadership positions such as Chair for the Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity. Dean Schmidt was awarded Penn State’s 2005 Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award, the 2002-2003 Multicultural Resource Center’s Faculty/Staff Diversity Award and in 2006 was appointed by Governor Rendell to the Pennsylvania Governor's Commission on Latino Affairs.
María holds a BS in Sociology from the University of Puerto Rico (Río Piedras) and a M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from The Pennsylvania State University.

Her office is umbrella to collaborations/initiatives such as Restorative Justice-Prison Education Program, DC Social Justice Fellowship among others.