Elaine Townsend Utin is a Peruvian-American educator, facilitator, and leadership strategist dedicated to cultivating leaders who strengthen communities and expand opportunity. Raised in the rural U.S. South as a 1.75-generation immigrant and first-generation college student, her work is deeply informed by her lived experience and a commitment to ensuring all people have the opportunity to thrive.

Elaine is the co-founder of LatinxEd, where she led statewide efforts to invest in Latine leadership and advance educational equity across North Carolina. Today, she partners with mission-driven organizations to develop leaders, foster belonging, strengthen civic engagement, and build more equitable systems through coaching, facilitation, and organizational strategy.

A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Education, Elaine holds a master’s degree in Technology, Innovation, and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a longtime Hermana of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc.

Elaine lives in the Houston area with her husband and two sons, where she enjoys exploring new communities, baking sourdough, and finding joy and ease in everyday moments.