Elizabeth Hernandez
A natural learner and innovative leader. Highly motivated, self-driven, and accomplished professional with 13+ years of extensive experience in higher education. Qualified Federal Grants Director, Non-Profit Management, and Educational Equity & Inclusion Practitioner. A natural daydreamer--a strategic collaborator, community builder, and dynamic speaker.
United Harbor Area Association
Wilmington, CA
2024- Current
As the Director of Strategic Operations, I oversee the strategic planning, creation, and implementation of the non-profit organization’s 3-year grant initiatives. Federal funded by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development, I am responsible for all components of the project which include producing successful outcomes.
American Society for Public Administration (ASPA),
Southern California Chapter
​​​2025-2028, Chapter Council Member
2024-2025, Student Member​​​​​​
Student Affairs Division
CSU Dominguez Hills
2010-2024
2017-2024
As the Director of Student Support Services, a federal funded TRIO Program, I was the fiscal and administrative officer of the Grant Initiatives. Our mission was to increase the retention and graduation rates of low-income & first-generation college students, students with disabilities, and undocumented/non-resident students.
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2014-2016
As the Program Advisor and Program Coordinator, I was responsible for a caseload of 160 students and creating, planning and implementing all grant programming.
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2010-2012
As a Student Assistant/Peer advisor, I was responsible for providing excellent service to all students, the CSUDH community, and all guests. Additionally, I supported all professional staff with special projects.
Author,
Beyond the Broken Gates:
A Collection of Short Stories
2020, Self Published Author
Western Association for Educational Opportunity Personnel (WESTOP) -
Southern California Chapter
2016-2025, Chapter Member​
2023-2024, Past President
2022-2023​, Chapter President
2021-2022, President-Elect​​
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Wilmington Chamber of Commerce,
Wilmington, CA
2018-2019, Board Member, CSUDH representative
2019-2020, Vice President of Memberships
Education
Doctor of Public Policy & Administration, Student
University of La Verne
Expected Graduation date: 2028
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Master of Public Policy & Administration
CSU Long Beach
Fall 2016
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Bachelor of Science: Criminal Justice Administration
CSU Dominguez Hills
Fall 2012
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Associate of Arts
Los Angeles Harbor College​
Spring 2010
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GED, Torrance Adult School
Fall 2009
Natural and Learned Skills:
Tri-Lingual: Spanish (native), English (fluent) Arabic (conversational)
GALLUP Strengths: Futuristic, Strategic, Achiever, Learner, Intellection
Program development and management
U.S. Department of Education Federal Programs, Federal Codes of Regulations
Grant administration and reporting
Government Budgeting
Data analysis and program evaluation
Government and Community Relations, Network Oriented
Community Organizing, Outreach, and Mission focused
First-generation college freshmen and transfer student counseling
College equity, access, retention, and graduation for underrepresented students
Teamwork builder and collaboration
Excellent Oral, written, and online platforms communications skills
Proficient in Microsoft: Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Word
Proficient use of university software: PeopleSoft; other software use: Canva, Adobe
Proficient use of participant tracking software: Blumen
Professional
Training
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WESTOP - Southern California, Professional Development Seminar, CSULB, CA, 2025
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WESTOP - Southern California, Professional Development Seminar, Temecula, CA, 2023
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45th Annual Western Association of Educational Opportunity Conference, Reno, Nevada, 2023
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Executive Leadership Institute, University of Kansas, 2022
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Council for Opportunity in Education Conference, Atlanta, GA, 2021
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Policy Seminar, Washington D.C., 2021
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42nd Annual Western Association of Educational Opportunity Conference, Orange County, 2020
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41st Annual Western Association of Educational Opportunity Conference, Phoenix, AZ, 2019
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Policy Seminar, Washington D.C., 2019
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CSUDH Design Your Life Staff Retreat, Westlake Village, CA, 2018
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GALLUP Strengths Coaching, Irvine, CA, 2018
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40th Annual Western Association of Educational Opportunity Conference, Honolulu, HI, 2018
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National Academic Advising Association Conference (NACADA), Chicago, IL 2017
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39th Annual Western Association of Educational Opportunity Conference, Monterey, CA, 2017
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Council for Opportunity in Education Conference, San Diego, CA 2016
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TRIO Training Priority 1 - Recordkeeping, Evaluation & Reporting, Chicago, IL, 2017
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TRIO Training Priority 6 – New Director’s Training, Washington, D.C. 2017
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TRIO Training Priority 2 - Budget Management, Puerto Rico, USA, 2015
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TRIO Training Priority 3 - Assessment of Student Needs, Puerto Rico USA, 2015
Service
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WESTOP - SOCAL, PDS Planning Committee, CSULB, 2025
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Presenter, CSUDH Toro Summer Academy, 2023
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Presenter, Girls STEAM Day at CSUDH, GearUP Compton, 2023
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Committee Member, CSUDH Credit for Prior Learning, 2022
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Chair, 4th Annual CSUDH First Generation College Student Event, 2022
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Presenter, Youth Empowerment, GearUP Compton, 2022
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Chair, 3rd Annual CSUDH First Generation College Student Event, 2021
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Presenter, Youth Empowerment, GearUP Compton, 2021
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Chair, 2nd Annual CSUDH First Generation College Student Event, 2020
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Established and Chair, 1st Annual CSUDH First Generation College Student Event, 2019
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Chair, WESTOP SoCal Student Leadership Conference (SLC), 2019
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Presenter, CSUDH Veterans Retreat, 2018
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Keynote Motivational Speaker, EXP – The Opportunity Engine, CSUDH, 2018
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Volunteer, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce – LA Fleet Week, 2018
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CSUDH Alumni Speaker, EXP – The Opportunity Engine, CSUDH, 2018
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Committee Member, 2018 WESTOP SoCal Student Leadership Conference (SLC)
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Chair, CSUDH Dolores Huerta Graduation Celebration, 2018
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Presenter, OSL - Passport to Leadership: Managing Conflict & Negotiation Strategies, 2017
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Planning Committee Member, CSUDH Dolores Huerta Graduation Celebration, 2017
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Judge, CSUDH Student Research Day, 2014-2015, 2016-2017
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Lead Facilitator, Circle of Change Leadership Conference, CSUDH, 2014 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
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Presenter, CSUDH Women’s Resource Center, 2017
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Presenter, CSUDH Veteran’s Resource Center Retreat, 2017
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Group Facilitator, CSUDH Women’s Retreat, 2016
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Group Facilitator &Presenter, OSL Institute for Leadership Education & Development, CSUDH, 2017
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Undocumented Student Ally, Toro Dream Center, CSUDH 2015 - 2017
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Presenter, Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall Resource Fair, Summer 2015
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Volunteer, Active Shooter Training Exercise, LASD, LAFD, CSUDH, Summer 2015
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Volunteer, CSUDH 2nd Annual Women’s Conference 2014-2015
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Panelist, TRIO Upward Bound, 2016 Career Day, CSUDH
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Planning Committee Member, CSUDH Staff Appreciation Event, 2016