Elizabeth F. Romero is a lifelong resident of the Coachella Valley and daughter of immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador. A first-generation college graduate, Elizabeth attended College of the Desert and transferred to the University of California, Riverside earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She holds a Masters of Politics, Economics and Business from Claremont Graduate University and recently completed the Institute for Educational Management (IEM) program at Harvard University.
In 2006, Elizabeth was first elected to the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees at the age of 23. Currently, Elizabeth serves as an elected member of the Riverside County Board of Education representing Coachella Valley, Desert Center, Desert Sands, Palm Springs and Palo Verde Unified School Districts.
Professionally, Elizabeth serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Governmental & Community Relations at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). As the chief government and community relations officer, Elizabeth advocates and advances support for public higher education. UCR is widely recognized as one of the most diverse, inclusive institutions within the prestigious 10 campus University of California system.
Prior to joining UCR, Elizabeth served as the Director of Community and Government Relations for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest in Riverside and Imperial Counties. Elizabeth also managed the Building Healthy Communities Initiative funded by The California Endowment and has worked for Desert Arc, University Center for Developmental Disabilities, and served as a Legislative Assistant to the late Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor Roy Wilson and late Supervisor John J. Benoit.
Elizabeth is an alumnus of the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Leadership Institute and Women’s Policy Institute sponsored by the Women’s Foundation of California. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Regional Access Project Foundation, Inc., LifeStream Blood Bank, and Youth Leadership Institute. Elizabeth and her husband, Luis, reside in Indio with their son Aaron.