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Archie Cubarrubia
Archie Cubarrubia
00:47

Archie Cubarrubia

ECMC Foundation

San Diego, CA USA

"At the end of the day, we want to feel good about the work we do."

Career Roadmap

Archie's work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Helping People

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Day In The Life

Vice President, Grants

I oversee our grantmaking portfolios to help bridge the gap for more students to earn credentials of value.

01:53

Day In The Life Of A Vice President For Grants

My Day to Day

I essentially help seed good ideas. I lead a great team of program officers, and together we review grant requests, evaluate strategy alignment, and make decisions about allocating resources. My days are filled with lots of meetings. I also do a lot of writing, reporting, and sharing good work with the public. Whether I’m discussing strategy, reviewing proposals, or sharing lessons from the field, my goal is to help more students earn credentials that create opportunity and economic mobility.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Health Studies

    Boston University

  • Graduate Degree

    Policy, Planning, and Administration

    Boston University

  • Doctorate

    Higher Education Administration

    George Washington University

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    Growing up in an immigrant family, I believed my future had to fit a few approved careers, so I started college as a physical therapy major.

  • 2.

    During undergrad, I got involved as an orientation leader and resident advisor, which felt much more exciting and fulfilling.

  • 3.

    During my senior year, I took a leap of faith, changed course, and told my parents I was pursuing graduate studies in higher education.

  • 4.

    I earned both a master’s degree and doctorate in higher education, building a career around creating opportunities for students.

  • 5.

    Working across colleges and universities, I found purpose in seeing students succeed and knowing I helped them get there.

  • 6.

    My journey took me from campus leadership to the U.S. Department of Education, where I gained a broader view of how systems support learners.

  • 7.

    Today, I help direct millions in philanthropic investments, backing bold ideas that help more students earn credentials and build better futures.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Family:

    You need to become a doctor, lawyer, or engineer.

  • How I responded:

    Coming from an immigrant family, I believed I had to choose from a few approved careers: doctor, lawyer, or engineer. The medical field felt like it might be interesting, so I pursued health studies. I was also very involved in undergrad as an orientation leader and resident assistant. Working in higher ed felt exciting and fulfilling to me, so when I discovered that I could make a career out of it, I took a leap of faith and told my parents I was pursuing graduate studies in higher education.

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