Have questions about enrollment, degree programs, financial aid, or next steps?
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (June 9, 2025) — As evidence of her ongoing commitment to helping others, whether at work or at home in her community, Sonia Gutierrez-Mendoza, Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Services at UMass Global, was honored as one of five “Women of the Year” for 2025 by the City of Tulare, California. The presentation was made on March 4, 2025, as part of Tulare’s Women’s History Month activities.
During the March 4 Tulare City Council meeting the five women were honored for their distinguished service and commitment to the community. Each recipient was recognized individually by the city councilperson from their district. Gutierrez-Mendoza was presented with her Certificate of Recognition by City of Tulare Mayor Patrick Isherwood. Coincidentally, Mayor Isherwood is a graduate of Brandman University/UMass Global, having earned BA and MBA degrees.
Gutierrez-Mendoza has been with Brandman and then UMass Global for 15 years. She was campus director of the former campuses of Visalia, Hanford, and NAS Lemoore in Tulare and King Counties. When the university transitioned to a fully online format in 2023, Gutierrez-Mendoza’s role evolved to her current position as Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Services. She was promoted to that role in March of this year and now basically oversees the student experience, everything from admissions to academic advising to One-Stop Specialist financial matters.
Her work outside of UMass Global is equally impressive. Gutierrez-Mendoza currently serves as a member of the United Way of Tulare County’s Resource and Development Grant Committee, as treasurer of the Encore Theater “Encore Kid” program, as a volunteer with Harvesting Hope to help alleviate food insecurity in Tulare, and as a board member of the Tulare County Hispanic Leadership Network. She has also volunteered with various other local organizations, from St. Rita’s Church to the Tulare Business and Education Council, and on various local school district Teacher Induction Advisory Boards.
Gutierrez-Mendoza spoke at the Tulare City Council presentation on March 4 advocating for others to get involved. She explained that she had accepted volunteer roles when asked, despite not knowing if she knew enough to be effective in the role. “I encourage everyone to become involved, no matter who you are or what access you have,” she said, “Just show up — someone will put you to work.”
She concluded her portion of the ceremony with this advice for the youth of Tulare. “To the young people out there, don’t be afraid to take a risk,” she advised. “And don’t be afraid to say yes when people ask you to help. Just do it.”
UMass Global is proud to have Sonia as an integral part of our university.
###
About University of Massachusetts Global
Founded in 1958 and accredited by WSCUC, University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global) is a nonprofit affiliate of the University of Massachusetts, committed to helping adult learners change their lives through education. We offer over 55 online programs tailored for workplace relevance — associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, along with teaching credentials, stackable certificates, and authorizations. All UMass Global coursework is 100 percent online, which meshes with the busy lives of our non-traditional students. We are known for attentive student support, accommodating transfer policies, high graduation rates, alumni satisfaction, and low student debt loan default rates. For additional information, visit the university's website.