Her Story
About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Velarde, Ed.D., MPH, M.Ed., is a nonprofit and public health leader serving as Senior Program Manager for Brighter Bites, overseeing programs in both Dallas and San Antonio. With approximately 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, she has progressed through a range of community, education, public health, and program management roles. In her current position, she oversees teams across two Texas markets, manages program goals, supports staff development, cultivates partnerships, and helps ensure families receive nutrition education and consistent access to fresh produce. Her work reflects a strong commitment to building healthier and more equitable communities through people-centered programming.
Elizabeth's academic background spans health, public health, education, and organizational leadership. She earned a B.A. in Health Studies with a concentration in Community Health Education from Texas Woman's University, an M.P.H. from the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, an M.Ed. from Fielding Graduate University, and an Ed.D. in Leadership for Change from Fielding Graduate University. Her professional credentials include a Supervisory and Management Certificate from the San Antonio Area Foundation and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from USF Corporate Training and Professional Education. She is also a member of the American Public Health Association and has extensive experience in community education, nutrition programming, youth development, and nonprofit leadership.
Elizabeth attributes her professional growth in large part to supportive supervisors who trusted her, provided flexibility, and encouraged her to bring new ideas to her work while she pursued her education and balanced family responsibilities. She describes trust, communication, and integrity as central to both her professional and personal values, emphasizing respect for people's identities, cultures, and lived experiences. As a leader, she encourages the next generation to speak up, pursue opportunities, request additional responsibilities, and create space for themselves rather than waiting for opportunities to be offered. Her career reflects a commitment to lifelong learning, community impact, equity-focused leadership, and creating programs that help individuals and families build on their own strengths.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Elizabeth
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute much of my success to having supportive supervisors and leaders who gave me the freedom and flexibility to bring new ideas to the table. Throughout my education and career, I have been fortunate to work with supervisors who trusted me, supported my growth, and allowed me to adjust my schedule when I needed to balance work, school, projects, and being a parent.
Having that level of support and flexibility is not something I take for granted. It allowed me to continue working while pursuing my education and managing my responsibilities outside of work. The trust my supervisors placed in me gave me the confidence and space to grow, experiment with new ideas, and continue developing as a leader.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to do what makes me happy. There have been points in my career when I realized I was no longer growing or learning something new. As a lifelong learner, I know that I am happiest when I am developing new skills, taking on new challenges, and continuing to learn.
I have also learned that it is okay to recognize when you have reached the end of a particular chapter. An organization may fulfill your desire to help people and provide meaningful work, but sometimes you eventually reach a point where you have learned what you can from that experience. There is nothing wrong with recognizing that and moving forward to find an opportunity where you can continue to grow.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If there is not already a place for you, make a place. Speak up, ask for opportunities, and be willing to request additional training, responsibilities, or projects. Do not wait for someone to simply hand an opportunity to you.
If you see something that interests you and you know you are capable of contributing, put yourself out there and ask. Sometimes creating opportunities for yourself begins with having the confidence to say that you are interested, willing to learn, and ready to take on more responsibility. It never hurts to ask.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the nonprofit field is the uncertainty that comes from working in a sector that is heavily dependent on external funding. From one fiscal year to the next, organizations and employees may not know whether funding will continue, which creates a constant level of stress and uncertainty.
I experienced the impact of this firsthand when federal funding was lost and I was required to lay off half of my team. Beyond the operational challenges, situations like this have a significant emotional impact because the people affected are colleagues I have worked with and gotten to know over several years. Managing the needs of the organization while caring about the people on your team can be one of the most difficult aspects of nonprofit leadership.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are trust, communication, and integrity. I believe in doing things for the right reasons, particularly when working in a field that serves people and communities.
It is important to approach others with an open mind and with respect for their identities, cultures, experiences, and individual circumstances. When we enter someone else's community or space, we have a responsibility to treat that space and the people within it with the utmost respect.
I also place a strong emphasis on communication when working with my teams and organizational partners. I believe that we can work through almost any problem when we are willing to communicate openly, listen to one another, and work together toward a solution.
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