Elizabeth Lockerby

Research • Strategy • Leadership
Driving Impact in Science & Education

Project Coordinator, Earth Science Project Office (NASA)

Advisory Board Member, Turning Green
Research Consultant, Stanford CIRCLE

Dual M.S.Ed., University of Pennsylvania

Lead with empathy. Act with clarity. Help people thrive.

What I Stand For

I believe in systems that serve people.

I lead with an equity-minded, human-centered philosophy: systems should adapt to people — not the other way around. My work is grounded in clarity, collaboration, and a deep respect for the lived experiences behind the data.

Whether I’m shaping strategy, guiding teams, or evaluating impact, my goal is the same: align people, data, and purpose so ambitious ideas become durable, measurable progress. I work best at the intersection of empathy and execution, where thoughtful structure enables people to do their best work.

What I Do

Strategy & Operations

Stabilize and scale mission-driven programs through clear planning, operational design, and cross-team coordination.
Example: Coordinated national and international Earth science field campaigns with NASA ESPO.

Program Design & Leadership

Build frameworks, trainings, and team structures that help stakeholders move in the same direction.
Example: Stabilized global launch of PGC 2025 across 852 schools in 128 countries; most successful iteration to date.

Research & Evaluation

Translate mixed-methods evidence into decisions leaders can act on quickly and confidently.
Example: Produced executive brief for a global Climate Anxiety Survey (3,200+ respondents); launched Campus Representative program.

Connect on LinkedIn

Contact Me

Explore My Work

What's Next

Let’s build something meaningful.

I’m drawn to roles and collaborations at the intersection of research, strategy, and operational leadership — particularly in education, public service, and mission-driven organizations.

My goal across my current and future work is to create systems that expand opportunity, elevate people, and make impact sustainable.

My Story

The past...

I’ve always found myself stepping into the work of making things better — not because I sought leadership, but because I noticed gaps, patterns, and possibilities and felt compelled to act. From my earliest success turning a small high school initiative into a record-breaking fundraiser, I learned that clarity, ownership, and follow-through can dramatically change outcomes.

Growing up in the Bay Area surrounded by diverse languages, cultures, and perspectives taught me early that there is rarely one 'right' way to do something. That belief carried through my academic path, where I studied Biology and Psychology and later earned dual master’s degrees in Human Development and Statistics at the University of Pennsylvania. Across those experiences, I developed a deep understanding of how people learn, grow, and navigate the structures around them. They shaped a core conviction that still guides my work today: systems should adapt to people, not the other way around.

The present...

Today, I bring that same adaptive, human-centered mindset to leadership across science operations, nonprofit advising, and education research. I’m often called into moments of complexity or transition — when clarity, coordination, and trust matter most — to help teams regain momentum and move forward together.

My leadership philosophy begins with empathy. Empathy builds trust, structure creates clarity, and together they make impact possible. The best systems don’t overshadow people; they give them the space, tools, and confidence to excel.

The future...

I’m continuing to grow as a systems-level leader, connecting research, strategy, and operations to expand opportunity across education, public service, and mission-driven work. I’m especially energized by environments where human insight and data-informed decision-making come together to shape thoughtful, sustainable solutions.

At every stage, my aim is the same: build the scaffolding that helps people do their best work. Empathy forms the foundation, organization provides the structure, and curiosity keeps systems responsive and alive. These principles guide how I lead, how I learn, and how I turn insight into action.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse