Bio
Ana Mendoza (she/her) is the Education Equity Project Director and Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU Foundation of Southern California. Based in Los Angeles, she leads legal and policy initiatives to advance the rights of K–12 students and ensure equitable educational opportunities for historically marginalized youth, including Black, Indigenous, undocumented, disabled, and multilingual students. Her work combines litigation, legislative advocacy, and coalition-building to secure systemic reforms in California’s public schools.
Before joining ACLU SoCal, Ana practiced civil rights and employment law at a plaintiff-side firm, representing workers facing discrimination and harassment. She began her career as a youth and community organizer in California, the Midwest, and the Pacific Northwest, where she led multi-state or local initiatives to support youth leadership and advance racial and economic justice.
Ana is a graduate of UCLA School of Law where she specialized in Critical Race Studies. She has been recognized with two California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) awards for her leadership in landmark education equity litigation, including a 2025 award for securing systemic reforms for Black students, English learners, and students with disabilities. Her contributions have also been honored by UCLA Law’s Public Interest Program, UCLA’s Latine Law Student Association, and the New Leaders Council of Los Angeles.
In addition to her legal work, Ana has served in leadership roles within the legal community, including as past President of the UCLA Law Alumni Association Board and Vice President of the Mexican American Bar Association. She also mentored aspiring public interest lawyers through the Legal Education Access Pipeline (LEAP) and supports first-generation students considering legal careers through her blog, Bright New Beginnings.
Featured Work
Students, Parents, and the City Attorney Have Spoken: End Random Searches in L.A. Schools
