Vanessa N. Gonzalez

Vanessa N. Gonzalez currently serves as Vice President of Government and Political Affairs at GIFFORDS, a position held since August 2023. Prior to this role, Vanessa was the Executive Vice President of Field and Member Services at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights from June 2019 to August 2023. Vanessa has extensive experience in educational and advocacy roles, including positions such as Assistant Vice President for Strategy and Outreach at Southern New Hampshire University and Director of Outreach and Engagement at the U.S. Department of Education. Vanessa's work in the nonprofit sector includes leadership positions at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where initiatives focused on Latino community health needs were developed, and as a Child and Family Therapist at Southwest Human Development. Vanessa's educational background encompasses a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Social Work from Arizona State University, alongside a Bachelor's Degree in Communications and Political Science from Sul Ross State University.