María Schmidt, assistant dean for the Office of Education and Social Equity (OESE) in the College of Education, has established herself as a champion of social justice and racial equity during the course of her 32-year career at Penn State. Schmidt was recently recognized for her contributions by Pennsylvania Latino Convention (PALC) with her inclusion in the 2022 POWER 100 Who’s Who in Latino Pennsylvania, a list of Latinas and Latinos that represents diverse individuals making valuable contributions to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
“I think it has special meaning when your own community is recognizing your efforts,” Schmidt said. “It’s a validation of my life’s work.”
Schmidt’s activist learnings took root during her undergraduate years — she received a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in political science from the University of Puerto Rico (Río Piedras). Through her program, she said, she had opportunities to “engage in hands-on work in addressing inequities in different systems” as well as getting involved in social activism. For a time, she also worked in a drug and rehabilitation center for male teens. Although she originally intended to go to law school to study constitutional law, she opted to pursue a master’s degree in instructional systems (now known as learning, design and technology) in the Penn State College of Education.
“I thought I could do a (master’s degree) not necessarily because I wanted to engage in the education system in the traditional way of the classroom setting but because I saw through my own experiences how the power of education and educators in different spaces can make a difference or at least be an influencer for the greater good,” Schmidt said.
After receiving her master’s degree from the College of Education, Schmidt worked in a rehabilitation center but found herself called back to Penn State in 1991 as an adviser in the Office of Student Aid. During her six years in that role, she was able to utilize her diverse background and “bring it to an area where (students) need help in navigating the system.”
“That was an absolutely significant experience in learning that has been a great tool for later in my career,” Schmidt said. “Economic distress and the need for financial support exists more than ever. (The position) gave me the toolkit to help students and families navigate that very complex part of the college experience.”
In 1996, Schmidt started working for Penn State’s Multicultural Resource Center, where she directed Hispanics in Academic Progress. In 2000, she took on what would become the defining role of her career: assistant dean of the Office of Multicultural Programs in the College of Education. In 2020, the office changed its name to the Office of Education and Social Equity to better reflect its mission of building an equitable, inclusive and diverse culture in the College of Education. OESE works toward that goal by creating educational opportunities and experiences, raising awareness and developing strategies and tools to enhance intercultural, racial/ethnic competence.
“It’s kind of going in full circle,” Schmidt said. “I always had that passion and inclination to work with social phenomena and how to try to be an agent of change. I couldn’t be contributing to the problem, but I needed to participate in creating the solutions.”
One of OESE’s primary roles is to provide historically underserved/minoritized students the support, opportunities and resources that provide access to post-secondary education, enhance their educational experience and facilitate their academic well-being.
“Every time I see a successful student coming in, not even believing in themselves, and then watching that process of seeing them grow, graduate and then go out doing amazing things —that in itself is an accomplishment, to be part of that process with them,” Schmidt said.
While OESE strives to equally serve all students who belong to minoritized groups, Schmidt acknowledged that Latina/o students face unique challenges. Many of those issues stem from poverty — in 2021, 15% of Hispanic families were reported to be living below the poverty level in the United States. Additionally, Schmidt said, Latina/o parents tend to be more protective and strict than Anglo-Saxon parents so “the idea of going away to college is not something that is very palatable to the parents.” She added that many Latina/o students may have to work while completing their studies to contribute to the family’s well-being and financial survival. OESE addresses the needs of Latina/o students by pairing them with tutors that understand their life experiences. In addition, OESE partners with other units across the University that provide cultural, social and academic opportunities with the purpose of enabling Latina/o students to develop their full potential.
“We also bring them together so they can find community,” Schmidt said. “A challenge for most underrepresented students is to develop that feeling of belonging. …That’s why you also have to create that space where you can foster that feeling of belonging.”
Highlights of Schmidt’s tenure at Penn State include having served in several leadership positions, including chair for the Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity. In addition, she received the 2005 Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award in recognition of her commitment and leadership in fostering diversity and her service to underrepresented communities. In addition, she was appointed to the Pennsylvania Governor’s Commission on Latino Affairs in 2006, where she served for several years as commissioner representing Blair and Centre counties.
Schmidt frequently serves as consultant and advocate on Latina/o issues and engages in a variety of speaking, teaching and translating activities for community and University endeavors. She also is adviser to several student organizations at Penn State and one of the founders of “Mujeres Bellas,” a sociocultural group of Latinas in Centre County.
Now in the home stretch of her Penn State journey, Schmidt said she wants to continue expanding opportunities for underrepresented students, faculty and staff to facilitate their growth. Even after retirement, she said she sees herself as continuing her activism in some form and “trying to contribute to the college in other capacities.”