August 26, 2025
The California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce has named Maria Cervantes as a recipient of the 2025 Latina Empresaria Award. This year’s honorees were recognized at the Latina Empresaria Luncheon, themed "Spirit of Latinas — Shaping California's Future," on August 22, 2025.
Maria was recognized with the Minerva Empresaria Award, which honors successful women who empower others through leadership, passion, and wisdom. She was lauded for her community involvement, spirit and commitment to the Latina business community.
As a proud first-generation Mexican-American, she serves as the Executive Director of the UCI-OC Alliance, where she builds pathways for Latino student success at UC Irvine. Her previous leadership roles at Latino Health Access and the MIND Research Institute reflect her commitment to health and educational equity. Additionally, Maria has mentored young leaders through the Orange County Hispanic Youth Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board of AltaMed.