Maria Ortiz Borden

Maria Ortiz Borden is a capacity builder, facilitator, and coach. Maria has over 25 years of experience working with community-based organizations to improve outcomes for children and families. She has extensive experience in developing and managing programming, fund development, strategic planning, supporting the execution and implementation of strategies, and addressing equitable outcomes. She has a passion for working with organizations, collaboratives, and institutions to address systemic racism; increase their cultural competency; and promote racial healing efforts. 

Since 2012, Maria has served as co-executive Director of Pulse at the W.E. Upjohn Institute (formally BC Pulse at Michigan State University).  Pulse works with key partners to ensure sufficient resources are available for equitable access to quality early childhood experiences, create and improve learning environments, and promote the healthy development of children in Michigan. Pulse uses data and behavior change frameworks to make positive changes that benefit the early childhood ecosystem.  Pulse brings community stakeholders together with the foundational belief that when children thrive, the entire community benefits.  In addition, Pulse provides technical assistance and training in partnership with Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) and Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP).

Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in social science from Michigan State University, completed the Harvard Business School on Performance Measurement for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organizations.  She is a trained System Change Facilitator in Michigan State University’s ABLe Change Framework, a trained anti-racism/anti-bias facilitator and practitioner and is a Certified Community Coach through Leadership That Works. Additional Affiliations: Beyond Diversity Practitioner/Facilitator, Coach/Mentor and Community Advisor of W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network Class 1 and 2. In 2025, she was named a Zaentz Fellow at the Stanford Center on Early Childhood.