Lisette Orellana Engel

Lisette Orellana Engel serves as the director of the Economic Policy Project at UnidosUS. In this role, she leads the development and execution of policy priorities that advance economic opportunities for the Latino community. With over 15 years of experience in policy, Lisette has focused on local, state and national initiatives impacting marginalized communities, particularly families with young children, immigrants and seniors. 

She collaborates with a team of experts to analyze emerging economic trends, develop policy recommendations and engage with federal policymakers. Her work has centered on key issues such as pay equity, access to tax credits and safety net support for working families. As a member of the policy and advocacy management team, Lisette frequently represents UnidosUS in high-level policy forums and media engagements, serving as a leading voice on Latino economic issues. She is fully bilingual.  

Prior to her role at UnidosUS, Lisette was the vice president of policy and systems change for the Justice and Joy National Collaborative. She holds a bachelor’s in communication studies and a master’s in public administration from the University of Baltimore.