Lillian Zepeda joined YSN in December 2024 as head of marketing and communications. In this senior leadership role, she is responsible for defining the YSN brand strategy, highlighting the school’s people and projects internally and externally, and advancing administrative priorities.
Prior to her role at Yale, Lillian served as marketing and communications director and senior advisor to the vice president for communications and marketing at Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY). There, she led efforts in crisis communications, strategic partnerships, and enrollment marketing as well as a website redesign and the college’s annual Dismantling and Combatting Hate Conference.
Lillian has also served as communications director for the New York City Council overseeing all aspects of communications related to the City of New York’s $82 billion budget negotiation process as well as the 21st Council District that encompassed LaGuardia Airport, Citifield, and Flushing Meadows Corona Park. During her tenure, she led a national health campaign to raise awareness around the menstrual health needs of homeless and incarcerated people which culminated in the enactment of legislation at the local, state and federal levels.
She holds an Associate of Arts in communication studies from CUNY LaGuardia Community College, a Bachelor of Science in media, culture, and communication from New York University and a juris doctorate from the City University of New York School of Law. She is a member of the New York City Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Committee and regularly volunteers with several community organizations and initiatives.