08/17/2026
The Center for Equity for English Learners (CEEL) at Loyola Marymount University is thrilled to announce Laura Hernandez-Flores, Ed.D., as CEEL Director. With over two decades of experience as an education leader, Dr. Hernandez-Flores’ career spans the classroom, nonprofit organizations, and executive leadership. She began her career as a teacher in under-resourced communities before advancing into leadership roles at LA’s Promise, New Teacher Center, and Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, where she most recently served as Chief of Staff. Prior to joining CEEL, Laura consulted with Thrive Public Schools, supporting strategic planning and organizational development for school systems and nonprofit organizations, and with CEEL, where she contributed to the design and development of professional learning for multilingual learners. A proud first-generation college graduate and daughter of immigrants, she is deeply committed to educational opportunity and systems change. Laura also serves on the Board of Trustees for Foothill Country Day School in Claremont, California. She holds a B.A. from UCLA, an M.A. in Education and BCLAD from LMU, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California. “After an extensive national search, I am so pleased to welcome Dr. Laura Hernandez-Flores as CEEL's new Director — her deep roots in the classroom, her track record of leadership across national, state and local education sectors, and her personal commitment to educational equity make her exactly the leader CEEL needs to build upon our work to ensure equity and excellence in English Learner and Multilingual education," said Magaly Lavadenz, Ph.D., CEEL's Executive Director.
