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Eliza Melendez

Eliza Melendez, PhD, serves as Associate Vice President, Enterprise Risk Management at Advocate Health, where she supports leaders in strengthening risk governance and organizational resilience in service of Advocate Health’s mission to redefine care, inspire hope, and serve all. With more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Melendez has built a career focused on helping organizations steward people, resources, and strategy with integrity, accountability, and purpose.

Her professional background includes roles at The Walt Disney Company, Wells Fargo, and Protiviti, where she advised senior leaders and boards across complex, highly regulated industries. Dr. Melendez holds a BA from Concordia University Wisconsin, an MBA from Liberty University, and a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University.

Grounded in faith and a commitment to service, she is passionate about ethical leadership, community impact, and strengthening nonprofit governance. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and their two doodles and is enjoying life’s current season as an empty nester.

Why I Joined…

I am honored to serve on the New Moms Board, a role that holds both personal and professional significance for me. As a former recipient of New Moms’ services, I have long hoped to return and give back in a meaningful way, ideally serving as an example of what is possible when women are supported, equipped, and believed in.

I am committed to offering my time, talent, and resources to help advance New Moms’ mission and to support programs and environments that empower families to thrive and create lasting impact in the communities where they live, work, and serve.

Favorite Quote…

“Sometimes you have to be an echo before you have a voice.” — Rich Wilkerson Jr.

Although this quote was shared in a church leadership context, its message has shaped my leadership journey more broadly. Before leaders can find their own voice, they must first learn to listen, observe, and faithfully echo the wisdom of those who lead well. To me, it reflects the importance of humility and a teachable spirit—recognizing that learning precedes leading, and that influence is earned long before it is exercised.