9335 Hazard Way
Suite 201
San Diego, CA 92123
805-242-2454
live@ucanr.edu
Also in:
Orange County - UC Cooperative Extension
Links
Biography
Liliana Vega is the newly appointed 4-H Youth Development Advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension in San Diego (UCCE) and Orange County. Her primary focus is Positive Youth Development (PYD) through a JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) lens, as well as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), Leadership, and College/Career Readiness Programs, focusing on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) youth and families.
With a bachelor's degree in Multi-Ethnic and Mexican American Studies from Boise State University and a master's degree in Adult/Organizational Learning and Leadership from the University of Idaho, she possesses over 15 years of experience as a 4-H professional. She previously served in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties for five years and spent the prior 10 years serving Idaho in Ada and Canyon Counties.
Leveraging her expertise, Liliana forms community partnerships to deliver high-quality youth development programs, emphasizing improved access for minority, low-income, and underserved audiences. She specializes in culturally adapting programs for the Latinx community and JEDI initiatives, being a qualified administrator for the IDI (Intercultural Development Inventory).
She holds roles in the National 4-H LGBTQ+ and Immigration/Refugee Youth & Community Champion Groups. She also chairs the 4-H Statewide JEDI Advisory Committee, the California 4-H True Leaders in Equity Youth Taskforce, and the UC ANR Career/College Readiness & Workforce Development Workgroup. Additionally, she has served on several other committees such as 4-H STEM and Camp Advisory Committees, as well as the California 4-H Association.
Liliana's aspiration is to provide professional development for youth-serving professionals regarding PYD and best practices for engaging BIPOC youth and families. She's committed to providing evidence-based resources to both professionals and community partners, thereby elevating the quality of youth programs in San Diego and Orange Counties and expanding positive youth development opportunities for all.
Eager to establish new collaborations, Liliana is excited about working collectively in San Diego and Orange Counties. Her commitment to youth and 4-H is to help them develop life skills, strengthen youth-adult partnerships, and enable them to thrive with the support they need to grow as individuals.
Education
Awards
- Distinguished Service Award
Presented by National Association of Extension 4-H Agents, 2021
Specialty
Positive Youth DevelopmentAreas of Expertise (click to see all ANR academics with this expertise)
Bibliography
Peer Reviewed
Worker, S., Kok, C.M., Vega, L., Moncloa, F., Fabregas, Janeiro, M., Gunn, M., (2022). Welcoming Culturally Diverse Youth into 4-H: A Handbook for 4-H Professionals. University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. UC ANR Publication 8714, October 2022. https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8714.pdf
Amende, J., Greenway, S., Vega, L., & Nayak, R. (2021). Developing a Youth Entrepreneurship Program to Reach Latinx Youth. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 9(3), 17-31. Retrieved from https://www.jhseonline.com/article/view/1112
Gonzalez, M., White, A. J., Vega, L., Howard, J., Kokozos, M., & Soule, K. E. (2020). “Making the Best Better” for Youths: Cultivating LGBTQ+ Inclusion in 4-H. The Journal of Extension, 58(4), Article 3. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol58/iss4/3
Shelstad, N., Hansen, L., & Vega, L. (2018). Youths Learn Responsible Use of Credit Cards. The Journal of Extension, 56(6), Article 15. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol56/iss6/15
- Vega, Liliana; Brody, Barbara, et al. (2016). Best Practices for Outreach and Engagement to Latino Audiences using Community-Based Programs. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension. http://media.wix.com/ugd/c8fe6e_8973a5d2faf24bc2af9c9508e46beb98.pdf. 4:2, 148-166. June.
Non-Peer Reviewed
Vega, L., (2023). Tips for Building Positive Relationships with Youth Using the Developmental Relationship Framework, UC ANR Youth Development Insights, Ideas, Strategies, and Research from the Field, April 13, 2023. Blog.
Vega, L., Hill, R., White, A., Understanding the Impacts of Racial Trauma on Youth of Color and the Importance of Racial/Ethnic Identity Development, 2022 4-H Positive Youth Development Academy on Youth Mental Health, May 10, 2022
Vega, L., White, A., Moores, N., EldenBrady, A., 2022. Best Practices to Support Positive Mental Health & Inclusion of LGBTQ+ Youth. 2022 4-H Positive Youth Development Academy on Youth Mental Health, May 11, 2022.
Rand, J., Ellliot-Engel, J., Gonzalez, M., Vega, L., Oberstadt, K., Soule, K., White, A., Helping Youth Thrive Through An Equity Lens – LGBTQ+ Youth/Community Fact Sheet 3/12, April 2022. https://access-equity-belonging.extension.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/LGBTQ-Youth.pdf
Vega, L., White, A., Elliot-Engel, J., Soule, K., Youth Voices: Towards Creating Truly Inclusive Spaces, NAE4-HYDP (National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professional) National Annual Conference, Boise, ID (Virtual), October 22, 2020.
Gonzalez, M., Vega, L., White, A., Elliot-Engel, J., Howard, J., Soule, K., “Making the Best Better” for Youth: Cultivating LGBTQ+ Inclusion within 4-H, NAE4-HYDP (National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professional) National Annual Conference, Boise, ID (Virtual), October 20, 2020.
Amende, J., Greenway, S., Vega., L., Adapting a Youth Program for Hispanic/Latinx Audiences,2020 Hawaii International Conference on Education, Waikiki, HI, January 5, 2020.
Hill, R., Moncloa, F., Vega, L., Nayak, R., (2020) First Ever 4-H Virtual Summer Camps Improve Youth Health and Wellness, UC Delivers, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. September 8, 2020. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=43605
Amende, J., Greenway, S., Vega., L., Adapting a Youth Program for Hispanic/Latinx Audiences, American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences, St. Louis, MO, June 25, 2019.
Amende, J., Greenway, S., Vega., L., Adapting a Youth Program for Hispanic/Latinx Audiences, PNW (Pacific Northwest) Tri-State 4-H Professional Conference, Bend, OR, April 17, 2019.
Vega, L., Hill, R., Fabregas, L., Creating High Quality & Accessible Programs: Culturally Adaptive 4-H Programs, National Urban Extension Conference, Seattle, WA, May 21, 2019
Howard, J., Krehbiel, M., Mains, M., Vega, L., Developing Understanding of the LGBTQ+ Community to Enhance Acceptance & Understanding in 4-H, NAE4-HA (National Association of Extension 4-H Agents) National Annual Conference, Columbus, OH, October 11, 2018.