Dr. Maria Harper-Marinick

Maria Harper-Marinick, Ph.D., currently serves as Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs for the Maricopa Community College District.  Dr. Harper-Marinick has been part of the Maricopa family since 1991, having served as District Director for Academic Support Programs and Services before assuming the VC role.  In that capacity, Dr. Harper-Marinick served also as the district liaison to national and local agencies in the areas of learning, instruction, educational research, evaluation and assessment, and faculty professional development.  As Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Harper-Marinick provides oversight for academic programs, curriculum, academic research and assessment, workforce development, university relations and articulation, health care education, teacher education, high-tech/manufacturing technologies, international education, honors program, Fine Arts, Hoop of Learning, faculty development, internal grants, small business development, and other programs in support of students, faculty, staff, and the community.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Dr. Harper-Marinick came to Arizona State University as a Fulbright Scholar in 1982.  Maria holds a Ph.D. in Learning and Instructional Technologies and a Master’s Degree in Instructional Media from Arizona State University, and a Licentiate in School Administration and Pedagogy from Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena in the Dominican Republic.  In addition to her work at Maricopa, she has been a college instructor and guest lecturer, a consultant for national organizations, and the Deputy Executive Director for Academic Affairs for the Instituto Dominico-Americano in the Dominican Republic. 

Maria is active at national level in associations related to higher education, teaching and learning, assessment, and scholarship of teaching and learning.  She is a founding member of the International Society on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.  She serves on national and local boards and advisory committees for:  League for Innovation in the Community College, Community Colleges in Transition Initiatives (CCTI), Maricopa Advanced Technology Educational Center (MATEC), National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs (NACCTEP), Arizona’s Friends of Small Business Advisory Board, and the Journal of Student-Centered Learning.  She also serves as co-chair of the Academic Program Articulation Steering Committee (APASC) for the state of Arizona, as a member of Arizona State University President’s Council, and as a Distinguished Advocate for the Center for Formation in Higher Education.

Maria has authored several chapters, has published articles in professional journals, and has presented at many local, national, and international conferences.

Dr. Harper-Marinick has been the recipient of various awards throughout her tenure at Maricopa.  She has been selected as Fellow for both the National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC) and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).  She has received the Employee Spotlight Award from Valle del Sol’s Profiles of Success, and was selected as the Maricopa Community Colleges’ District Office Woman of Distinction in 2004.

Maria is married to Michael and has two children, John (12) and Gabrielle Elena (10).  She enjoys reading, traveling, and dancing.