As executive vice president for policy, advocacy, and communications at Strada, Gabriella Gómez leads the public policy development, state and federal advocacy, and strategic communications teams. She collaborates with policymakers and partners to help craft and advocate for policy solutions for postsecondary education and training that provide equitable pathways to opportunity.
Before joining Strada, Gómez was a deputy director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and oversaw its policy agenda for U.S. education programs. She also served on the board of Hispanics in Philanthropy, which helps drive philanthropic resources to strengthen Latino leadership and influence. Gómez has received the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Medallion of Excellence for a Distinguished Alumnus, as well as the Loyola Marymount Latino Alumni Association’s Alumni Role Model Award
As a first-generation college student, Gómez earned her Bachelor of Arts from Loyola Marymount University. A CHCI fellowship from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute helped launch her career in federal education policy. Gómez also worked as a legislative assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives before earning a master’s degree from Harvard University.
Gómez then worked as a governmental affairs leader for the American Federation of Teachers. She returned to the Hill as a higher education advisor for the chairman of the House Committee for Education and Labor. Gómez also led both the offices of Congressional Affairs and Budget and Policy in the U.S. Department of Education.