A Fireside Chat with Ms. Julie Chavez Rodriguez

Program

In closing the celebration of Women’s History Month, please join us for a 60-minute “Fireside Chat” with Julie Chavez Rodriguez. In dialogue with Cynthia Gonzalez, director of the Pardee RAND Community-Partnered Policy and Action Stream, Ms. Rodriguez will share reflections on her career trajectory as a Latina navigating the policy space and teachings from her grandparents, Helen and Cesar Chavez, among other key leaders. An open Q&A will follow the moderated discussion.

This event is co-sponsored by the Pardee RAND Community-Partnered Policy and Action Stream and RAND Latinx y Más Employee Resource Group.

Speakers

Julie Chavez Rodriguez

Julie Chavez Rodriguez is an American political rights activist, Deputy Assistant to the President, and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, she served as a Deputy Campaign Manager on the Biden-Harris Campaign. Before that, she was National Political Director and traveling Chief of Staff for then-Senator Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Prior to launching Senator Harris’ campaign, she served as California State Director in her senate office. During the Obama-Biden administration, Chavez Rodriguez served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Deputy Director of Public Engagement in the Office of Public Engagement. Before joining the White House, Chavez Rodriguez served as the Director of Youth Employment at the Department of the Interior and as Deputy Press Secretary to former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. Earlier in her career, she served as the Director of Programs at the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation. A native of California, she is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. Julie Chavez Rodriguez is participating in this event in a personal capacity; her remarks do not reflect the views of the Biden-Harris Administration.

Cynthia Gonzalez

Cynthia Gonzalez is director of Pardee RAND Graduate School's Community-Partnered Policy and Action academic stream. Previously the assistant director, Division of Community Engagement, at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, and an alumna of Pardee RAND's Faculty Leaders Program, Gonzalez brings a strong background in community-based participatory research, cultural anthropology and social ethnography to the understanding of community wellness.