Dr. Zuhey Espinoza

Dr. Zuhey Espinoza is the Associate Vice President and Chief Government Relations Officer at the University of La Verne, where she plays a pivotal role in managing local, state, and federal policy initiatives and fostering valuable partnerships. Zuhey’s impactful leadership has resulted in the successful acquisition of $11 million in funding for the University.

Prior to her role at the University of La Verne, Zuhey served as the Director of Policy and Government Relations at California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA). Zuhey’s diverse professional background includes serving as a Field Deputy to former LA County Board Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, providing crucial constituent services and outreach to the West Valley and Mountain Communities. She also completed a Coro Fellowship in Los Angeles, collaborating with various impactful organizations and businesses such as the UCLA Labor Center, Southern California Gas Company, American Diabetes Association, State Senator Carol Liu, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), and the Port of Los Angeles.

Zuhey holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UCLA, a Master of Arts in Public and International Affairs from the University of Ottawa in Canada, and a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Chicano Studies from Loyola Marymount University. Her research interests focus on anchor institutions reflected in her authored works, “The Geography of Community” and co-authored articles like “Purpose-Driven Partnerships That Transform People and Places.”