Mirasol Española

Dr. Mirasol Española joined GWSB in May 2013 as the executive director of undergraduate programs. In conjunction with the vice dean of undergraduate programs, she oversees all of the initiatives and services of the Office of Undergraduate Programs and leads a dedicated team of professionals in carrying out its mission, vision and values. She also serves as a member of GWSB Undergraduate Programs Core Faculty and Staff (CoreFac), represents GWSB undergraduate programs on university-wide committees pertaining to undergraduate matters, and teaches in the Business Leader Development Program.

Dr. Española has more than twenty years of academic advising, teaching, and leadership experience in higher education and has worked with students from more than 100 countries and all fifty states. She started her professional career in academic advising at Wayland Baptist University-Hawaii Center, working with military students and adult learners. In 1996, she joined Hawaii Pacific University (HPU), the largest private university in Hawaii, where she ultimately advanced to serve as Dean of Academic Advising; she also taught Introduction to Psychology as an Adjunct Faculty (Online) for HPU’s Military Campus Programs. Most recently, Dr. Española served as the Dean of Academic Advising at Revelle College at the University of California, San Diego for more than seven years.

Dr. Española completed her undergraduate work in Psychology at the University of Hawai‘i at West O’ahu and went on to earn a Master of Science Degree in Counseling Psychology from Chaminade University of Honolulu. She earned graduate certificates in Community College Leadership and the Management of College Student Services and a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) at the University of Southern California, where she completed her dissertation research on the Academic Preparation, Academic Involvement, and Retention of First Generation College Students.