Crystal Esparza Dean is a dedicated leader in higher education with over 17 years of experience specializing in admissions, recruitment, scholarships, and student affairs. Most recently, she served as the Director of Admissions at the University of Minnesota Medical School, where she managed daily operations for the Twin Cities campus while leading strategic organizational efforts across all three university campuses. Her leadership was instrumental in the oversight of the admissions application and review systems, as well as the strategic redesign of the interview day experience during the transition through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crystal holds a Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts in Chicano Studies and Communication Studies from the University of Minnesota. She brings a unique systems lens to her work, driven by a passion for building meaningful relationships and driving systemic change. As a first-generation student herself, Crystal maintains a steadfast commitment to supporting individuals from marginalized and under-resourced communities, recognizing the transformative impact of equitable access to higher education.
She is excited to join the Medical School Headquarters team and looks forward to providing expert support and guidance to the next generation of medical professionals.
