IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Houston (July 28, 2026)

CHILDREN AT RISK (C@R), a leading nonpartisan research and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of children across Texas, has announced the appointment of Liza Gomez as its new Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

Gomez brings extensive experience in early childhood education, having previously led the Ready Children Impact Area and established the Alamo Quality Pathway at United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. Working alongside Santrice Jones-Hare, recently promoted Chief Impact Officer and ongoing leader of the Greater Houston Strong Start Alliance, Gomez will reinforce CHILDREN AT RISK’s role as a critical catalyst in reimagining Texas child care systems.

As Deputy CEO, Gomez will join the team on August 17, 2026, to serve as a key strategic partner to President and CEO Dr. Bob Sanborn, helping lead the organization’s next phase of growth and impact.  She will work across C@R’s research, public policy, advocacy, programs, communications, development, and operations teams to strengthen collaboration, align organizational priorities, and ensure the organization continues to deliver measurable results for children and families.

“Liza brings the strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and innovative mindset that will help CHILDREN AT RISK continue to grow our impact,” said Dr. Sanborn. “We are thrilled to welcome her to this critical leadership role.”

A significant focus of Liza’s leadership will be helping CHILDREN AT RISK thoughtfully explore and responsibly integrate artificial intelligence into its work. By identifying opportunities to leverage emerging technologies in ways that reflect the organization’s mission and values, she will help enhance C@R’s research, advocacy, operations, and organizational effectiveness while maintaining a strong commitment to ethics, transparency, and equity.

Liza is an executive nonprofit and social impact leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing outcomes for children, families, education systems, and workforce pathways. She previously led a $10 million philanthropic and collective impact portfolio focused on improving opportunities for children and families by aligning funders, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, educators, business leaders, and community stakeholders around measurable systems change. Recognized for building cross-sector partnerships and driving strategic investments, Liza translates shared vision into sustainable, data-informed initiatives that strengthen communities and expand equitable access to opportunity.

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About CHILDREN AT RISK

CHILDREN AT RISK is a research and advocacy nonprofit leading the way in improving the quality of life for Texas children. CHILDREN AT RISK considers the whole child by tracking issues in children’s health, safety, education, and economic security to improve equity and justice for all Texas families. Committed to action beyond the data, CHILDREN AT RISK drives evidence-based change by speaking out on behalf of children. For more information, visit childrenatrisk.org, Facebook, and Twitter.