Faculty Feature: CFA Channel Islands Member, Educator, and Union Activist Pursues Public Office

“In a state as diverse as California, it is imperative that our educational institutions reflect the communities they serve. Representation in faculty and leadership is key to fostering student success. Addressing this disparity is critical to creating an inclusive environment that values the experiences, culture, and potential of all students.” 

CFA Channel Islands member Dr. Mari Estrada is devoted to students, worker solidarity, and public service. It’s why she teaches at the CSU, participates in union activism, and is running for the Oxnard Union High School District Board. 

Estrada has worked at advancing educational access and serving students at every level, first supporting and developing early childhood educators in Santa Barbara County then teaching at CSU Channel Islands. 

“In graduate school, the intellectual rigor, mentorship, and collaborative environment reaffirmed my desire to work in academia. While my initial goal was to teach at a research institution, I found a strong connection to the CSU mission of serving diverse student populations. My work in the CSU system has allowed me to balance research, teaching, and community engagement, all while focusing on real-world impact,” said Estrada, CFA Channel Islands Member At-Large and CSU Channel Islands part-time Lecturer in early childhood studies. 

Estrada’s perspective as an educator, mother of two college students, and spouse of a college administrator informs her commitment to ensuring that education is accessible and beneficial for all. Part of providing quality education is making sure educators undergo training valued as professional development: “Many early educators participate in valuable training but did not receive academic units or credit that could help them advance in their careers.”  

Though Estrada is drawn to the CSU’s mission of a college education for any Californian who wants one, she sees an erosion from CSU administration in valuing student-servingness and faculty and staff’s contributions to student success. 

“My own experiences being excluded from full participation in my program due to my part-time status shape my understanding of the importance of union solidarity,” Estrada said. “Participating in our union helps me continue the fight for improved faculty working conditions that directly benefit student outcomes.” 

Estrada’s advocacy includes serving two terms as lecturer representative on the CSU Channel Islands Academic Senate. She also helped establish the university’s  

Non-Tenure Track Task Force which addresses important issues such as creating pathways to tenure-track positions, ensuring access to professional development, providing proper workspaces, and ensuring lecturers have a voice in departmental and Academic Senate decisions. 

Fellow CFA Channel Islands member Kendall McClellan said Estrada is passionate and immensely supportive of colleagues. Thanks to Estrada’s work with other colleagues, the university’s Non-Tenure Track Task Force has already made strides getting stipends for lecturer service work and increasing the sense of community and engagement for lecturers across campus. 

“Though she only teaches part time for the campus, she has remained heavily involved in shared governance and union work,” said McClellan, CFA Channel Islands Lecturer Representative and CSU Channel Islands Lecturer. “Mari has also been a tireless advocate for equity and transparency in the School of Education.” 

Estrada’s goal is bringing people together and harnessing the power of collective bargaining to create positive change. 

Growing up during the 1980s recession, Estrada saw directly how union members brought protections and safety to workplaces. 

“My father’s attempts to unionize a warehouse led to his termination and my mother lost her job after an injury in a non-union workplace,” Estrada explains. “These experiences shaped my unwavering support for unions and collective bargaining, and I firmly believe that employees deserve fair treatment, regardless of their employment classification. We need to protect workers from exploitation.” 

Estrada encourages her colleagues to be more involved CFA members. It’s key to understand our rights and address concerns before they escalate, she said. 

“Active participation allows faculty to support their colleagues, contribute to improving working conditions, and advocate for fair treatment across the board. Unions are not only about collective bargaining but also about fostering a sense of community and solidarity among workers. Faculty involvement ensures a more equitable and collaborative work environment for all,” Estrada said. 

At the intersection of education, labor, and public service, Estrada hopes to win election to the Oxnard Union High School Board of Trustees this November. Trustees set direction, ensure accountability, and advocate for the 17,000 students attending public schools in the seaside community between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. 

Estrada’s daughter served as the Board’s student trustee from 2021 to 2022, and Estrada attended every Board meeting with her, gaining insight into the decision-making process. With a record of community-focused service, she was recruited to run for office by the district’s teachers and staff unions. 

“I recognized opportunities for improvement, particularly in addressing the needs of underserved students and enhancing leadership representation. As a parent, educator, and advocate, I am committed to ensuring that all students, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, have access to quality education and resources,” said Estrada, who also wants to help the district build collaborative partnerships with local city councils, elementary districts, and community college districts to ensure support for students and families across the public education continuum. 

Many of the headlines and memes heading into Election Day focus on national candidates and issues. Local elections are just as important – and many are decided by a handful of votes. 

“While state and national elections receive significant attention, local elections have an immediate and lasting influence on our quality of life. Engaging in these elections is essential for ensuring that the needs of the community are represented and addressed,” Estrada said.  “Public service is about being part of the solution — ensuring that communities, especially those who are underserved, have advocates in positions of influence,” Estrada added.