Executive Director​ of Expanded Learning – Bay Area Community Resources (BACR)

Mariana Lopez Quintanilla is the Executive Director of Expanded Learning at Bay Area Community Resources (BACR). She began her career in education in 1998, working in early childhood education and supporting students with ADHD. In 2007, she served refugee and immigrant communities in Miami-Dade County, helping families navigate the U.S. education system and ensuring students received the academic and social support they needed to thrive.

Mariana joined BACR in 2009 and has served in a variety of leadership roles in the out-of-school time field, supporting thousands of students each year. She now leads a region-wide Expanded Learning initiative that partners with eight Bay Area school districts and supports more than 100 programs.

A Compassionate Systems Master Practitioner, Mariana’s leadership is grounded in reflection, collaboration, and continuous learning. She is committed to creating environments where both youth and adults feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow.

Her work has been recognized with numerous honors, including the BACR Best Practices Award for Expanded Learning (2014) and a Golden Bell Award from the Marin County Office of Education for Student Programs. She was selected as a National Equity Project Fellow in 2016, completed the National After-School Matters Fellowship through the National Institute on Out-of-School Time in 2020, and earned a Nonprofit Management and Leadership Certificate from Duke University in 2022.