Liliana Vega

Liliana Vega is the newly appointed 4-H Youth Development Advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension in San Diego (UCCE) and Orange County. Her primary focus is Positive Youth Development (PYD) through a JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) lens, as well as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), Leadership, and College/Career Readiness Programs, focusing on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) youth and families.

With a bachelor's degree in Multi-Ethnic and Mexican American Studies from Boise State University and a master's degree in Adult/Organizational Learning and Leadership from the University of Idaho, she possesses over 15 years of experience as a 4-H professional. She previously served in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties for five years and spent the prior 10 years serving Idaho in Ada and Canyon Counties.

Leveraging her expertise, Liliana forms community partnerships to deliver high-quality youth development programs, emphasizing improved access for minority, low-income, and underserved audiences. She specializes in culturally adapting programs for the Latinx community and JEDI initiatives, being a qualified administrator for the IDI (Intercultural Development Inventory).

She holds roles in the National 4-H LGBTQ+ and Immigration/Refugee Youth & Community Champion Groups. She also chairs the 4-H Statewide JEDI Advisory Committee, the California 4-H True Leaders in Equity Youth Taskforce, and the UC ANR Career/College Readiness & Workforce Development Workgroup. Additionally, she has served on several other committees such as 4-H STEM and Camp Advisory Committees, as well as the California 4-H Association.

Liliana's aspiration is to provide professional development for youth-serving professionals regarding PYD and best practices for engaging BIPOC youth and families. She's committed to providing evidence-based resources to both professionals and community partners, thereby elevating the quality of youth programs in San Diego and Orange Counties and expanding positive youth development opportunities for all.

Eager to establish new collaborations, Liliana is excited about working collectively in San Diego and Orange Counties. Her commitment to youth and 4-H is to help them develop life skills, strengthen youth-adult partnerships, and enable them to thrive with the support they need to grow as individuals.