Cristina Alfaro, Ph.D. is the Associate Vice-President for International Affairs at San Diego State University. Dr. Alfaro is a Dual Language Education Professor and Immediate Past Chair of the Dual Language and English Learner Education Department in the College of Education where she championed and led the largest bilingual teacher education program in the state of California. She is the recipient of the CABE Board 2022 Innovation Leadership Award! Additionally, she has been honored by the San Diego County Office of Education Biliteracy Leadership Award, College of Education and University Senate Excellence in Teaching Award, the National Outstanding Latina in Higher Education Award, and the Gomez-Morin Global Education Award. As a researcher she has examined and published on the role of ideological consciousness and pedagogical practices that situate access and equity at the core of dual language/bilingual education.