Diana Bejarano Figueroa is Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Strategic Initiatives at Education Forward Arizona.

A change agent advancing transformational impact, Figueroa’s career has focused on promoting and championing access and opportunity for underrepresented communities in Arizona across the P-20 education continuum.

At Education Forward Arizona, Figueroa leads the organization’s overall marketing, communications and strategic initiatives, all in pursuit of meeting Arizona Education Progress Meter goals. A statewide champion, advocate and spokesperson, Figueroa promotes Arizona’s education and attainment goals, with particular attention to educational equity and diversity as an asset to increase educational outcomes.

Figueroa has extensive experience at the K-12 level. Before coming to Education Forward Arizona, she was executive director of community engagement for the Roosevelt School District. She worked closely there with families and the community, creating impactful partnerships with Arizona Cardinals, Cox Communications, Intel, Phoenix Suns, State Farm and others, while implementing district-wide digital marketing, communications and public relations strategies. She also has served as a long-term substitute classroom teacher.

Figueroa also has more than a decade of communications experience in higher education. As Executive Director of Strategic Digital Marketing and Communication for Educational Outreach and Student Services at Arizona State University (ASU), Figueroa managed marketing and communication for Access ASU Outreach programs and initiatives geared toward helping students and families prepare, enroll and succeed in college. She led all marketing and communication efforts in launching ASU’s PreK-12 public charter school, ASU Preparatory Academy. She also served on the University’s Marketing HUB and worked on university partnerships with Coca Cola, Starbucks and others.

Figueroa’s corporate and nonprofit marketing and communications experience includes Arizona’s Healthcare Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Bashas’ Inc., Motorola and National Hispanic Corporate Council.

Figueroa began her career at The Arizona Republic, where as digital online editor, she helped to launch azcentral.com. She was the first producer of PBS’ Horizonte Latino public affairs show.

Figueroa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a minor in Spanish from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU. She currently is pursuing a Master’s degree in social technologies from ASU.

Figueroa was recognized by “Forty Under 40” in both the Phoenix Business Journal and by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of Valle del Sol Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI).

Figueroa has volunteered with various service organizations, including Valley of the Sun United Way, St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, Fresh Start Women’s Foundation Auxiliary Board, Friendly House, Chicanos Por La Causa, ASU’s Los Diablos Board of Directors, and the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where she also served on the board of directors.

Figueroa is an Arizona native and a Spanish-speaker.