Elaine Townsend Utin, a proud Peruvian-American, is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of LatinxEd. In this non-profit capacity, Elaine leads state-wide efforts to invest in Latinx leadership to advance educational equity and opportunity in North Carolina. Elaine's dedication to advocating for the Latinx community, particularly those facing financial and geographical limitations, stems from her upbringing in the rural U.S. South as a 1.75-generation immigrant and first-generation college student.

In addition to her role as Director, Elaine is an award-winning educator specializing in conscious leadership development, coaching, and positive racial-ethnic identity development. Her notable contributions to the field of education led to her recognition on Forbes's 30 Under 30: Education list, a testament to her efforts in creating pathways for future generations of Latinx leaders.

She holds a master's degree in Technology, Innovation, and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, along with a bachelor's degree in Middle Grades Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Elaine is also a long-standing Hermana of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc.

While raised in Waxhaw, NC, she currently resides in Durham, NC and enjoys spending time with her wonderful husband and adorable toddler.