Dr. Mariana Vergara Esquivel, EdD, has been appointed as a post-doctoral fellow at The CEJJES Institute. She is the Research Director, of the Mindfulness into Action (MIA) Research Institute, and has been an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Programs in Health Education and Community Health Education at the Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University. .Currently she is the director of the Parent Center, working with parents and students in the East Ramapo School District in Rockland County, NY.
The Parent Center is dedicated to empowering parents and strengthening families through education, advocacy, and community engagement. Our mission is to support parents as active partners in their children’s academic, social, and emotional development by providing resources, workshops, referrals, and family-centered programs. Through collaboration with schools, community organizations, and families, the Parent Center promotes positive parent-child relationships, educational success, and overall family well-being. We strive to create inclusive and supportive environments where parents have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to help their children thrive at home, in school, and in the community.