I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, which gave me a deep appreciation for trees, the beauty of nature, and the desire to get outside no matter the weather. I absolutely love to swim, and having a choice of several all-season outdoor pools to swim in so close to our home is fabulous!

Being a mom is also a passion for me—it is so amazing to be with a little person and support, nurture, and love them as they grow into themselves! It is also fun to be exposed to new interests—like our son’s love for musical theater. As I have done with K, I’d love to explore all the fun activities around us with a little one and see what they naturally gravitate to.

Elena’s work is motivated by issues of justice and equity. She earned her Bachelor’s from the University of Oregon and her Master’s of Public Health from Yale University. Her pursuit of a Doctorate in Public Health from UC Berkeley brought her to the SF Bay Area. Elena currently works in research, trying to better understand how to create environments that support health. Her favorite type of research involves focus groups and interviews, where she gets to hear directly from people about their health stories.

As a family, we value learning and know it can take many forms. We enjoyed our time at UC Berkeley and will support the children we raise in pursuing higher education if that’s what they want.