Elizabeth Tisdahl served as mayor of Evanston from 2009 to 2017, the third in a string of female mayors from 1985 to 2017. Her longstanding involvement with the community’s schools shaped her time in public service, both as mayor and beyond.
Significance: Prior to becoming mayor of Evanston, Elizabeth Tisdahl was an active member of the community, volunteering her time in a variety of ways, Tisdahl served in a variety of capacities, including serving on PTAs, Evanston Township High School’s Boosters Club, and as a softball coach for King Lab School.
In 1989, Tisdahl was elected to the District 202 School Board. As she ran for the board, she emphasized her time spent as a volunteer for the schools, and noting that she had been an ETHS parent for 10 years, and would continue to have a child in the schools for next 6 years. She went on to be a school board member for three terms, serving as president for two of them. One of her key initiatives included spearheading the founding of a school-based health center at ETHS.
She also co-founded Mothers Against Gangs in 1987, a primarily volunteer association looking to provide Evanston with a safe and gang-free environment by providing youth with recreational activities. While the organization dissolved in 1996, their programming offered new opportunities for ETHS students.
Tisdahl first served in public office in Evanston as alderman, representing the 7th Ward. In this position, she looked at different ways she could support kids and students, as well as the financial health of the city.
Considering her next steps after serving as alderman, Tisdahl was encouraged to run for mayor by Lorraine Morton herself who was Mayor at the time. After successfully winning her campaign in 2009, Tisdahl served two terms. She notably helped expand the mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program and worked with Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen to open the Erie Evanston/Skokie Health Center, two of her most touted accomplishments.
After deciding not to run for re-election in 2016, Tisdahl was praised for her time as mayor and for “presiding over a time of relatively harmonious City Councils.” In 2025, the City of Evanston renamed a portion of Simpson Street in her honor, recognizing her as the only mayor who has been elected to serve on both a school board and the City Council, as well as having continued the tradition of strong female leadership.
Completed by Brenna Large for the Evanston Women’s History Project