Elizabeth Simonhoff Perez

Elizabeth (Liz) Simonhoff Perez is Associate Vice President in Educational Outreach and Student Services at Arizona State University, where she leads strategic initiatives that strengthen student success, career readiness, workforce development, and partnerships across K–12 education, higher education, and industry. 

With more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning higher education, public service, and the private sector, Liz has built and scaled initiatives that expand educational access, improve student outcomes, and connect learners to meaningful career pathways. 

At ASU, Liz has led initiatives focused on experiential learning, internships, employer engagement, artificial intelligence, career services, and educational innovation. Her work centers on developing innovative programs and scalable partnerships that prepare learners for success in an evolving workforce while advancing ASU's mission of access and societal impact.

Prior to joining ASU, Liz spent more than a decade at Verizon, where she led national strategy for public sector initiatives spanning healthcare, education, and government. She pioneered innovative programs and public-private partnerships that expanded digital connectivity and access to healthcare for millions of Americans.

Simonhoff is completing a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership at the University of Southern California. Her dissertation examines how university-led K–12 partnerships influence college readiness and postsecondary participation through the ASU Preparatory Academy model. Her scholarship explores how higher education institutions can advance educational innovation through university-led K–12 initiatives that expand educational opportunity, strengthen college readiness, improve postsecondary outcomes, and support the long-term sustainability of higher education.