Staff Biography
Charmaine Utz, LCSW
Director of Culture, Learning & Development, and Brand Strategy
cutz@sdsu.edu
Charmaine Utz is the Director of Culture, Learning & Development, and Brand Strategy at the Academy for Professional Excellence, where she plays an integral role in bringing the Academy together to help us achieve our commitment to holistically integrate culturally responsive and recovery-oriented practices into our work that nurture healing, healthy relationships, and changed behaviors. She also guides us to establish and maintain strong alignment between internal organizational culture, external brand presence, and how learners experience Academy workforce development offerings to strengthen our ability to deliver on the Academy promise.
Charmaine oversees the development, implementation, and change management related to Academy culture and L&D efforts to maintain fidelity to our System of Practice which sustains DEI as shared practice. She ensures learning and development efforts are streamlined and strategically linked to Academy needs and business goals related to external community building. Her work has advanced industry standards and strengthened organizational sustainability through transparent tracking, cross-functional collaboration, and innovative learning solutions.
Charmaine is also the CEO of Living Unapologetically, where she directs a team of consultants delivering relational DEI coaching and practice-based learning experiences to thousands of social impact professionals nationwide. Her thought leadership includes published works such as Bias-Conscious Leadership: A Framework for Leading with Action and Accountability and contributions to digital magazines.
With a background spanning nonprofit executive leadership, clinical supervision, curriculum design, and multimedia production, Charmaine brings a unique ability to bridge strategy, artistry, and human connection. She blends organizational health and strategic planning with a clinical approach that invites people to engage in courageous conversations to re(build) relationships, trust, and safety between all levels of employees. She has also taught graduate-level courses in administration and leadership at CSU Dominguez Hills and facilitated over 50 public speaking engagements, including keynotes and national conferences.
Charmaine is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds a Master of Social Work from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and is certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Her mission is to inspire personal insight and drive systemic change through equity-centered leadership.