Maritza Leon Cartagena, Ph.D. | CEO

Dr. Maritza Jireh León Cartagena has been elected as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tulsa Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. A bilingual educator and trusted community leader, she brings more than seven years of experience building programs and partnerships that support immigrant, refugee, and Latino communities across Oklahoma. At the heart of her work is a simple but powerful belief: when businesses, schools, nonprofits, and public leaders work together, communities thrive.

Dr. León Cartagena earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science from Oklahoma State University, where her research focused on family resilience and language dynamics in Latino households. She has led federally and state-funded initiatives, managed complex, multi-site programs, and partnered with school districts and workforce organizations to strengthen bilingual education and talent pipelines.

In addition to her program leadership, she has taught at the university level, developed heritage Spanish curriculum for public schools, and founded literacy initiatives for youth, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to education, mentorship, and opportunity.

What truly distinguishes Dr. Cartagena is that her work is deeply personal. Her leadership is shaped by lived experiences in Oklahoma and a firsthand understanding of both the challenges and the strengths of the families and entrepreneurs this Chamber represents.

As CEO, she is focused on strengthening the Chamber’s role as a trusted convener and strategic partner, bringing together business owners, sponsors, and public leaders to advance Hispanic entrepreneurship, workforce development, and cross-sector collaboration.

Looking ahead, Dr. Cartagena is committed to aligning the Chamber’s work with Tulsa’s regional priorities for 2026, supporting workforce development, small business expansion, and economic growth as our city works to attract jobs, foster innovation, and build long-term prosperity.