MARIA OROZCO
County of Santa Cruz
Watsonville,California
15
years of professional experience
Public-sector leader with 15+ years of experience spanning local government, higher education administration, public policy, organizational operations, and elected governance. Career includes service as Mayor of Watsonville, principal policy advisor to a Santa Cruz County Supervisor, a 13-year career at UC Santa Cruz culminating as Assistant Director, and 10 years as an elected school board trustee. Brings a strong record of leading complex operations, supervising and developing staff, navigating highly regulated environments, advancing major public investments, building cross-sector partnerships, and translating policy and community priorities into practical results.
Work History
County Supervisor's Analyst
1 Year 7 Months- Serve as the principal policy, legislative, and community liaison for a member of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, providing strategic analysis and executive-level support across a broad portfolio of local and regional issues.
- Research and evaluate proposed policies, legislation, ordinances, programs, budgets, and funding opportunities and prepare recommendations to support informed decision-making.
- Develop Board agenda materials, policy memoranda, briefing documents, official correspondence, talking points, presentations, and public communications.
- Coordinate with County departments, local governments, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and regional partners to advance district and County priorities.
- Represent the Supervisor at public meetings, community events, stakeholder convenings, interagency discussions, and collaborative initiatives.
- Manage complex constituent matters involving County services, public infrastructure, housing, healthcare, transportation, public safety, environmental issues, and human services.
- Facilitate communication between residents and County departments, monitor case resolution, and promote timely, responsive, and equitable constituent service.
- Plan and lead community meetings, listening sessions, workshops, and public outreach efforts to gather input and strengthen community participation.
- Oversee special projects and district initiatives from concept through implementation, coordinating stakeholders, timelines, communications, deliverables, and follow-up.
- Support policy and budget priorities related to public health, housing, transportation, economic development, environmental sustainability, youth engagement, parks, and community services.
- Analyze sensitive and politically complex issues, identify potential community impacts and risks, and provide recommendations requiring sound judgment and discretion.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with elected officials, County leadership, agency representatives, community organizations, and residents.
Assistant Director, Customer Service, Special Programs & Outreach
1 Year 4 Months- Provided strategic and operational leadership for customer service, specialized financial aid programs, student outreach, and complex advising within a financial aid office serving approximately 19,000 students.
- Directed financial aid administration for Education Abroad, non-UC study abroad, consortium agreements, and summer-session programs in compliance with federal, state, University of California, and institutional requirements.
- Managed special-program eligibility reviews, financial aid packaging, award revisions, quality assurance, and resolution of complex student cases.
- Led customer-service operations across in-person, telephone, email, virtual, and web-based advising channels, ensuring timely, accurate, and student-centered support.
- Supervised professional and student staff, including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, workload management, performance evaluations, goal setting, and professional development.
- Developed and implemented policies, procedures, service standards, operational timelines, training materials, and internal guidance.
- Financial Aid and Scholarships | Santa Cruz, California
Interim Assistant Director, Customer Service, Special Programs & Outreach
1 Year 1 Month- Assumed assistant director responsibilities during a leadership transition, maintaining continuity of critical services, staff accountability, operational priorities, and regulatory compliance while directing day-to-day work and resolving escalated issues.
Special Programs and Communications Manager
2 Years 4 Months- Concurrently assumed Interim Assistant Director responsibilities beginning July 2022.
- Served as the departmental expert on specialized financial aid programs, regulations, policies, and compliance requirements.
- Partnered with internal departments and external organizations to develop program policies, coordinate procedures, and ensure accurate and timely delivery of financial aid.
- Interpreted federal, state, University of California, institutional, and outside-agency regulations and recommended procedures to strengthen compliance and operational consistency.
- Analyzed financial data, family circumstances, academic standing, educational goals, and other factors to determine eligibility for federal, state, institutional, and external financial aid programs.
- Recommended financial aid packaging policies and award-allocation strategies for designated student populations and specialized programs.
- Reviewed exception reports and reconciled complex data from multiple systems, identifying processing errors and programming or procedural improvements needed to support automated aid packaging.
- Collaborated with systems and operational teams to resolve data discrepancies, prevent recurring errors, and improve processing accuracy and efficiency.
- Counseled students and families on sensitive and complex financial aid matters and exercised professional judgment to authorize policy exceptions, award adjustments, and additional funding.
- Managed the Financial Aid and Scholarships website, overseeing content strategy, developing new pages, and maintaining the accuracy, accessibility, structure, and functionality of existing content.
- Developed web, print, email, and social media communications for prospective and continuing students, families, campus partners, and the public.
- Established program goals, processing objectives, timelines, and quality-assurance measures to ensure deadlines, service expectations, and compliance standards were met.
Financial Aid Adviser / Communications Specialist
5 Years- Managed 14 specialized financial aid and scholarship programs, establishing internal policies, operating procedures, processing timelines, and compliance standards.
- Managed a caseload of more than 400 students and advised students, families, faculty, and staff on federal, state, institutional, and external financial aid programs.
- Conducted federal needs analysis, reviewed financial aid applications and verification documents, determined eligibility, and awarded aid in accordance with applicable regulations and guidelines.
- Analyzed satisfactory academic progress, enrollment, and other system-generated reports to verify continued eligibility and regulatory compliance.
- Evaluated financial aid appeals, resolved complex financial aid and student-account issues, and coordinated with campus departments to advocate for appropriate student outcomes.
- Prepared and delivered financial aid presentations and application workshops for current and prospective students, families, high school counselors, and community partners.
- Trained new employees on financial aid procedures, specialized programs, regulatory requirements, and departmental policies.
- Developed and executed the department's communications strategy across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, web, email, and print platforms.
- Produced informational video tutorials, digital content, web graphics, forms, logos, brochures, flyers, postcards, and other student-facing materials.
- Improved the customer experience through website redesign, content development, copyediting, proofreading, and ongoing digital-content management.
- Analyzed monthly website and intranet performance data to evaluate communication reach, customer engagement, and operational effectiveness.
Financial Aid Customer Service Adviser
4 Years 11 Months- Provided front-line financial aid counseling to students and families regarding federal, state, and University financial aid programs, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and college costs.
- Delivered accurate and responsive assistance by telephone, in person, written correspondence, and social media while managing sensitive and confidential student information.
- Translated complex financial aid regulations and processes into clear, accessible guidance for students, families, colleagues, and community members from diverse cultural, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Assisted students with financial aid applications, required documentation, verification requirements, and resolution of account or eligibility issues.
- Supported University enrollment and outreach goals by delivering financial aid presentations and application workshops at local high schools, community colleges, and campus events.
- Collaborated with colleagues and campus departments to resolve student concerns, improve service delivery, and ensure consistent communication of financial aid policies and procedures.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Communication
Bachelor of Science - Political Science
Masters in Governance - Effective Governance Structure
Skills
Public Policy
Government Operations
Legislative Support
Organizational Leadership
Staff Supervision & Development
Customer Service
Community Engagement
Intergovernmental Relations
Program Management
Digital & Print Communications
Website & Content Management
Financial Aid Administration
Bilingual - Spanish
ELECTED GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP
Council Member, City of Watsonville, 2022-Present
Provide legislative leadership, policy direction, and fiscal oversight as an elected member of the Watsonville City Council, helping govern a full-service municipal organization with an approximately $311 million budget. Establish priorities spanning public safety, infrastructure, housing, economic development, utilities, parks, and community services; review and adopt budgets, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and long-term plans; and represent residents through regional partnerships and bilingual community engagement. Served as Mayor, presiding over City Council meetings and representing Watsonville in civic and intergovernmental settings.
Board Trustee, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, 2012-2022
Provided governance, policy direction, and fiscal oversight during 10 years as an elected public school board trustee. Helped establish priorities related to student achievement, educational equity, district budgets, labor agreements, facilities, student support, and long-term organizational planning. Collaborated with the superintendent, educators, families, students, community organizations, and public agencies to strengthen accountability, community engagement, and opportunities for students.
Affiliations
- Board Director: Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District
- Founding Board President: Friends of Watsonville Parks & Community Services
- Board Member: Pajaro Valley Prevention & Student Assistance
- Policy Committee Member: League of California Cities
HONORS & RECOGNITION
California Park & Recreation Society District 6 Sponsor Award, 2026
Pajaro Valley Education Foundation Community Partner Award, 2025
UC Santa Cruz Undergraduate Education Divisional-Level Platinum Award, 2018
UC Santa Cruz STAR-Plan Staff Appreciation & Recognition Awards, 2014 and 2013
Timeline
County Supervisor's Analyst
County of Santa Cruz
01.2025 - CurrentRead More
Assistant Director, Customer Service, Special Programs & Outreach
University of California, Santa Cruz
08.2023 - 12.2024Read More
Interim Assistant Director, Customer Service, Special Programs & Outreach
University of California, Santa Cruz
07.2022 - 08.2023Read More
Special Programs and Communications Manager
University of California, Santa Cruz
04.2021 - 08.2023Read More
Financial Aid Adviser / Communications Specialist
University Of California, Santa Cruz
03.2016 - 03.2021Read More
Financial Aid Customer Service Adviser
University of California, Santa Cruz
03.2011 - 02.2016Read More
Santa Clara University
Bachelor of Science from Communication
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Santa Clara University
Bachelor of Science from Political Science
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California School Board Association
Masters in Governance from Effective Governance Structure
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