Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Science in Speech Education and Master of Arts in Psycho-Linguistics from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She earned a Specialist Degree in Education Administration from SIU at Edwardsville and a doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Sarasota, Florida. Her seventeen years of teaching occurred in Metro St. Louis area schools. Once she moved into leadership positions, her sixteen years include serving as Director of the Learning Center at St. Louis Community College, becoming the first African-American to hold an administrative position in the Edwardsville, Illinois public school system, where she served as principal of Edwardsville High School, and finally her appointment as the first female to hold the position of superintendent for Carbondale School District #95. Dr. Lewin also has served and provided leadership for numerous local, state, and national boards. Her national service includes The National Holmes Partnership and Rotary International. State and region involvement include Leadership St. Louis, Southern Illinois Regional Social Services, The Governor's Education Task Force, and Illinois Association of School Administrators. Dr. Lewin's civic work includes serving as an alderman for the City of Edwardsville and developing a community project that promoted dialogue on the subject of race-relations in Carbondale.