Elizabeth Ayer

Elizabeth Ayer is a public-interest technology leader and educator specializing in human-centered government technology. As a Professor of Practice in Civic Technology, she uses her experience to enable students in tech leadership and critical evaluation of technology.

Since 2018, Elizabeth has delivered software solutions in public benefits and environmental review spaces, acting in product and program management roles for federal digital teams. Previously, Elizabeth was a part of 18F, the federal tech studio, where she set up technology initiatives and coached cross-agency teams with HHS, USDA, VA, Departments of Treasury and Commerce, as well as state public benefits agencies. She has been instrumental in introducing advanced software practices, especially agile and human-centered methods, into government.

Originally a software engineer, Elizabeth has lived the development of technology from the earliest days of the world wide web. Her technical background is in data management for engineering, developing technical tools that enable modern design and engineering practices. As AI transforms the software landscape, she is working closely with teams to introduce and reflect on thoughtful adoption practices.