Lisa Garcia is Associate Vice President for External Partnerships at Western Michigan University, where she leads efforts to strengthen relationships with corporate, nonprofit, government, and community partners in support of the university’s mission and regional impact. Prior to joining WMU, she spent 15 years in the advertising industry, working with national brands in New York, Chicago, and Dallas.
A dedicated community leader, Lisa serves on the boards of several organizations and co-founded ELLAS, a leadership network focused on elevating and connecting Latina leaders across Southwest Michigan. She is passionate about advancing educational attainment, workforce development, and economic opportunity through collaboration and partnership.
Lisa holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, a master's degree from The University of Texas at Austin, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Western Michigan University.