Dr. Elizabeth Gonzalez is a prominent academic leader and scholar, currently serving as the Director of Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Initiatives at UCLA’s Office of the Chancellor. Since her appointment in 2022, Dr. Gonzalez has been instrumental in advancing UCLA’s efforts to achieve federal HSI designation by 2025, driving strategic planning efforts that engage senior leadership, faculty, students, and alumni in enhancing the university’s capacity to support its diverse student body.
Dr. Gonzalez is a seasoned administrator with a proven track record in securing significant funding for her initiatives, including a $3 million gift to expand infrastructure and affordability programs at UCLA. She has spearheaded the establishment of the Latinx Success Center and the Excelencia Scholars Program, a scholarship initiative for low-income students.
Before joining UCLA, Dr. Gonzalez held leadership roles at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and San José City College, where she managed multi-million dollar Title V HSI grants and implemented programs that substantially improved student success outcomes. Her national work includes serving as the Vice President for the Alliance of HSI Educators (AHSIE), a role that allowed her to support the work of the nation’s nearly 600 designated HSIs and 400+ emerging HSIs.
Dr. Gonzalez earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and her B.A. in Psychology, cum laude, from UCLA. A Ford Fellow, she is recognized for her research on Indigenous Mexican youth and her commitment to advancing educational equity, making significant contributions to the field through both her scholarship and leadership.
Email: egonzalez@conet.ucla.edu