Chicago Public Schools Announces New Chief for the Office of Student Protections and Title IX (Chicago, IL) – The Chicago Board of Education Thursday approved the appointment of Elizabeth Mendoza Browne as the new chief of the Office of Student Protections and Title IX. This office is responsible for coordinating the District’s response to reports of abuse, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation involving students. It also works to eliminate barriers to academic programs and activities, promoting a safe learning and working environment for the District’s approximately 325,000 students and their families.
“Elizabeth Mendoza Browne has an extensive history of leading efforts to prevent child abuse, investigate incidents, and develop policies and procedures to avoid such abuses,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “She brings expertise in child sexual abuse, forensic interviewing of children, and trauma-informed practices to enhance the Office of Student Protections and Title IX’s response to students impacted by harm.”
Before joining CPS, Mendoza Browne worked for more than 15 years with the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center collaborating with law enforcement, child protective services, and prosecutors to investigate and respond to victims of child sexual abuse and other forms of violence on behalf of more than 2,000 children annually. During her time with the nonprofit organization, Mendoza Browne established the center’s first program to identify and respond to the commercial exploitation of children, led the center’s first national accreditation, and served on various task forces addressing child harm, among other initiatives.
Chief Mendoza Browne began her career with CPS as the Director of Investigations in the Office of Student Protections & Title IX in 2021. In this role, she oversaw Student Protections Investigators who supported students and families involved in the Office of Student Protections process. After six months, she transitioned to the position of Deputy Chief Title IX Officer in 2022. Since July 2024, she has been serving as the District’s Acting Chief Title IX Officer, which involves coordinating the District’s response to all reports of abuse, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation involving students.
Chief Mendoza Browne earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from DePaul University and was part of the inaugural cohort of the University of Chicago’s Center for Effective Government Executive Leadership Seminar Series in 2023.
Chief Mendoza Browne is married and is a proud stepmother to two children and a rescue dog.
Chicago Public Schools Announces New Chief for the Office of Student Protections and Title IX
