Iris A'Hirataro

Iris A’Hirataro joined the California State University of Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) as Director of Field Education at the Department of Social Work in January 2021. She joined CSUDH from the University of State University, Northridge where she served at Field Liaison and Instructor for the Department of Social Work. As a Field Liaison, she worked closely with first- and second-year students and the community-based organizations (CBOs) that host CSUN students as interns. In collaboration with Field Instructors and students, she designed field education projects that facilitate students’ educational and professional goals. She taught field seminar courses both online and traditional format on campus. In addition, Ms. A’Hirataro taught social policy and worked with students to design macro projects that complimented students’ field education. She also served as external Field Instructor to students interning in non-traditional social work settings. Ms. A’Hirataro led the initial efforts surrounding Basic Needs Initiative as the CalFresh Outreach coordinator. She led campus-wide efforts to address students’ basic needs for food insecurity. Under this assignment, she orchestrated efforts that created campus-wide collaboratives and partnerships with various CSUN entities that serve the most vulnerable students on campus such as EOP Satellites, the National Center of Deafness, the PRIDE Center, the Veterans Resources Center, and the Disability Resource and Educational Services.   

Prior to joining CSUN’s Department of Social Work, Ms. A’Hirataro served as Field Liaison at the University of Southern California (USC) where she worked with social work students in the Community Organization, Policy and Administration (COPA) concentration. While at USC, she also taught and co-taught policy courses at the Orange County Satellite campus. Ms. A’Hirataro also served as external field instructor for students hosted at non-traditional field placements. Before working with USC students, Ms. A’Hirataro served as Policy Research Associate to the Center for Collaboration for Children at the California State University in Fullerton (CSUF) and the Children and Family Futures (CFF) in Lake Forest, California. In both roles, she served as lead to various local, state, and federal efforts that impacted policy for children and families in Orange County. In collaboration with county agencies, she compiler and analyzed data to produce the annual County Report Card for Orange County. Ms. A’Hirataro supported the early funding stages of the First Five Commission of Orange County through the Performance Outcome Measurement System and worked directly with grantees towards achieving county goals. Ms. A’Hirataro also worked with the Fresno County Human and Services System to design a service delivery plan for Substance Abuse and Other Drugs unit. She was instrumental in community organizing efforts that informed policy makers through focus groups, key informant interview and public opinion surveys. Ms. A’Hirataro continues to provide consultation services as external Field Instructor to various community organizations and corporations that show interest in partnering with social work.