Chief of Staff UCSF Police Department

Here's what Ailene's nominator had to say about her:

"Ailene has worked tirelessly to improve the UCSF environment, in her role supporting campus safety initiatives and beyond her role on equity, inclusion and belonging. She's lighting the path to bring restorative justice to our community and helping to tear down systems that get in the way. Her passion is inspiring!”

Nominated by: Kim LaPean 

Ailene's Bio

Ailene Estalilla is an advocate, problem-solver and strategist.  In her current role as Chief of Staff and Director of Compliance for the UCSF Police Department, Ailene is responsible for strategic, operational and cultural agendas calling for considerable changes in policing and public safety for UCSF.  As a part of the leadership team, her most important objective is shaping a healthy, engaging, inclusive and high performing culture.  In 2021, Ailene led the inaugural Vendor Diversity Event for UCSF Real Estate, laying a foundation for Real Estate’s commitment to their current supplier diversity program.  She also created the first ever Job Readiness Program for the Security Services Division of the Police Department, partnering with non-profit organizations in the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco.   

Ailene is currently Co-Chair of the UCSF FAS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Anti-Racism Steering Committee and serves on the Equity Task Force Steering Committee for the San Mateo-Foster City School District, working alongside the Board of Trustees on matters pertaining to educational equity.  She is a trained Restorative Justice Facilitator and has been holding circles since 2020.  

Do you have a favorite song? If you had to choose an anthem, what would it be?  

My walk-on song would be Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys 

What’s on your reading list?    

Win When They Say You Won’t by Daphne Jones (On Audible), How to Raise Successful People by Esther Wojcicki , The 400-Year Holocaust by Dante King 

What advice would you give yourself early on in your career? To a woman entering your field today?  

Be Bold. Be Fearless. Know your worth (and add tax)! 

What has been an important success in your career? Have you had a key breakthrough moment? 

There has not been a key breakthrough moment, only many many small wins. Every risk I have taken and every failure I have endured has been a chance for me to learn, grow and become more self-aware about who I am as a leader.  What has been most important to my success is being able to find opportunities where I can really shine while also trailblazing, which I define as making the path to leadership easier for folks from marginalized communities, especially for women of color.  

Meet other outstanding women of UCSF through Our Spotlight.