liu was born in 1941 in berkeley, california. after receiving her bachelor of arts degree from san jose state university and her teaching credentials from uc berkeley, liu taught junior high and senior high school-level history in the san francisco bay area cities of richmond and el cerrito, california from 1964 until 1978. she also served as executive director of the richmond federation of teachers from 1975 to 1978. liu served as a school administrator from 1978 until 1984.