Industry Director​ – Bay Area Community Resources (BACR)

Mariana Lopez Quintanilla 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.

In 2009, Mariana joined Bay Area Community Resources (BACR), where she has held various roles in the out-of-school time field, serving thousands of students annually. She is now the Industry Director for Expanded Learning, leading a region-wide effort that supports over 100 programs in partnership with 8 Bay Area school districts.

Mariana is a Compassionate Systems Master Practitioner. Her leadership style is strongly informed by the integration of tools that foster a culture of reflection, collaboration, and continuous learning, creating conditions where both youth and adults feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow.  

Her work has been recognized with multiple awards, 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 fellow of the National Equity Project in 2016 and completed the National After-School Matters Fellowship with the National Institute of Out-of-School Time in 2020. In 2022, she earned a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Duke University.