During Elizabeth Lodal’s almost forty year career in public education, she taught history and English and served as Principal of: The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (named top US High School during her tenure), McLean High School, Langston Hughes Middle School, and Joyce Kilmer Middle School, all Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. Among her honors, Ms. Lodal received The George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award in 2018 and was the graduation keynote speaker. She was named the 2005 Virginia Educator of the Year Award by the American Association of University Women, the 1998 Rice University Distinguished Alumni Award, and the 1993 Rabbi Richard Sternberger Social Justice Award by Temple Rodef Shalom for combating racism, bigotry and prejudice in Northern Virginia. The Fairfax County School Board has named both the McLean High School Library and the TJHSST College and Career Center after her in recognition of her contributions.  She has received commendations from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Virginia General Assembly, and the United States Congress for her achievements in public education.

Elizabeth Lodal currently serves on the Virginia Board of Education (appointed by Governor McAuliffe for 2015-2019), as Chairman of the Board of the Urban Schools Human Capital Academy (training Urban Public School Administrators to hire effective Principals and Teachers). She is a member of the Board of Trustees of WETA Public TV and Radio which serves the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She also serves on the Virginia State Board of Directors of Communities in Schools. She previously served on the Board of Visitors of James Madison University (2008- 2011) and as a Virginia Commissioner on the Education Commission of the States, appointed by Governor Tim Kaine (2006-2010). She has also served on the Advisory Boards of the Smithsonian Science Education Center (8 years); the Boards of Trustees of The American Boychoir School (20 years); and as a Trustee and Chairman of Education for the Washington National Opera (15 years). 

Ms. Lodal holds a BA in History from Rice University and an MA in Secondary School Administration from The George Washington University.  She is married to Jan M. Lodal, founder of three Virginia technology companies, a national security expert, former President of the Atlantic Council, and former member of the Board of Overseers of The Curtis Institute of Music, the Board of the Washington Chorus, and a Trustee of the National Symphony Orchestra.  They have two children: Eric, who is a screenwriter, and Kirsten, who is co-founder & former CEO of LIFT, a national poverty alleviation non-profit. The Lodals have 4 granddaughters.