Dr. Diana Aroche

Dr. Diana E. Aroche, EdD, MPH is a nationally recognized executive leader with over twenty-five years of experience advancing equity-centered reforms, criminal justice policy, and community resilience across government, nonprofit, and education sectors.

Most recently, Dr. Aroche served as Director of Policy & Public Affairs for the San Francisco Police Department, where she supported Chief William Scott—the longest-serving Chief of Police in San Francisco’s modern history—and led reforms that framed public safety as a public health issue. She advanced equity-focused policies, oversaw compliance with state and federal mandates, and directed violence prevention strategies credited with historic reductions in homicides.

Previously, she served as a Senior Advisor to three consecutive San Francisco Mayors—Edwin M. Lee, Mark Farrell, and London Breed— directing more than $350 million in equity investments to strengthen community safety, immigrant inclusion, and family well-being. She also held leadership roles at the Department of Public Health, the Department of Children, Youth & Their Families, and community-based nonprofits, where she built coalitions, managed multimillion-dollar portfolios, and expanded opportunities for women, girls, and vulnerable communities.

Dr. Aroche earned her Doctorate in Organization and Leadership with Honors from the University of San Francisco, her Master of Public Health from San Francisco State University, and a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Ethnic Studies and Xicana/o Studies from UC Berkeley.