Lisa Hershey is a dynamic nonprofit and public sector leader with a proven record of advancing statewide transformational change resulting in big policy wins while driving vision, executing mission, designing strategy, guiding operations, cultivating high-performing teams, navigating dynamic environments, raising billions to advance socially just causes, and garnering millions of dollars of diverse financial investments to support non-profit organizational growth.
Lisa currently serves as the Executive Director for Housing California, a statewide non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to improving life within our golden state. Housing CA opens minds and organizes people most impacted by housing injustice and their allies to effectively advance equitable, systems change and structural reform policy solutions grounded in the lived expertise of affordable housing residents and social and economic policy research. Housing CA envisions a CA with homes, health, and wealth for all in thriving, sustainable communities. Lisa also sits on Ruby’s Place Board of Directors and recently served on the Governor’s Community Vaccine Advisory Committee, Governor’s California Complete Count Committee for 2020 Census and as a 2019 California Influencer for the Sacramento Bee.
Prior to moving into the ED role in November 2016, Lisa served as Associate Director and Sustainable Communities Coordinator at Housing CA. Before joining Housing CA, Lisa held leadership positions as the Public Health Institute (PHI) program director for California Convergence, a network of resident leaders and partners creating healthy, safe, and equitable communities where every person can participate and thrive. During her 21 years in state and local public sector roles, Lisa managed department-wide equity and place-based initiatives. She also served as an advisor to the director and deputy director on Policy and Programs in the California Department Public Health (CDPH) to inform SB 375 and AB 32 initial implementation and development of the Strategic Growth Council. She represented CDPH as a liaison for the department’s executive team with other state departments, agencies, and diverse external partners.
Lisa received a B.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University and a Master’s in Public Health from Loma Linda University School of Public Health. She is also a yoga teacher and certified peace ambassador. Lisa loves to run, practice yoga, and hang out with her family.