Alethea Arguilez, M.A. is the Executive Director of First 5 San Diego, the region’s primary organization for promoting the health and well-being of children 0-5 years of age and their families. Alethea has dedicated the past 20 years to the field of early childhood education, starting her journey in the field as an infant and toddler Master Teacher. Her early experience was working to create and support pathways for families experiencing adversity in achieving self-sufficiency through direct services which helped form the foundation for her work. Most recently, she was the Director of Child Development for the Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee where her responsibilities included oversight of multiple contracts governing regulations for early childhood programs and working with key community stakeholders. She has been dedicated to program administration to the birth to five community delivering Early Head Start, Head Start and the California Department of Education Preschool Program services.

She is presently serving in various Early Care and Education boards: County of San Diego, Child and Family Strengthening Advisory Board; San Diego State University, College of Education Dean’s Advisory Board; Partners in Prevention Leadership Committee; Alliance Healthcare Foundation Program Committee Member; Children First Collective; San Diego Child Care Planning Council and the First 5 Association’s Chair of the Public Policy Committee.

Alethea is a native San Diegan, wife, and mother of two daughters, Isabelle and Gabrielle and fur baby Enzo. She holds a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership Management from the University of San Diego School of Leadership and Education Sciences and a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development from San Diego State University.