Esperanza E. Zamora

Esperanza E. Zamora is an educator, spiritual practitioner, and community builder whose work integrates healing, reflection, and compassion. Based in Watsonville, California, she serves at the University of California, Santa Cruz as the Coordinator of the Master’s and Credential Program in Education, where she guides and supports aspiring teachers on their professional journeys. With a Master’s in Education and years of experience mentoring future educators, Esperanza brings warmth, patience, and a deep sense of care to every space she holds.

Her path is rooted in both academia and spirituality. Having worked in spiritual centers and developed her own healing practice, Esperanza views teaching as a sacred act—an opportunity to nurture love and awaken awareness in others. Her connection to nature and the elements reminds her daily of our interconnectedness and the responsibility we each hold to bring compassion into our shared world.

Through the Acosta Institute Fellowship, Esperanza hopes to deepen her healing-centered leadership and continue aligning her professional and spiritual callings. She is excited to build community with fellow educators and healers who are also remembering who they are—learning to lead from love, embody compassion, and serve with renewed clarity in these transformative times.