Andrea Sáenz

Andrea Sáenz is the President & CEO for The Chicago Community Trust, a community foundation whose strategic focus is on closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap in the Chicago region.

Previously, Andrea led strategy, program design, evaluation, and organizational development for Chicago Public Library, a system of more than 80 neighborhood branches. Before joining the Library, Andrea served as chief of staff to Chicago Public Schools CEO, policy advisor for the US Department of Education Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education, and executive director of HACE, a national non-profit working collaboratively with employers, universities, and schools to increase Latinx entry and success in professional careers. She began her social sector career leading community-based adult education and workforce development services at Congreso de Latinos Unidos in Philadelphia.
 
In 2019, Andrea was recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of Chicago’s Most Powerful Latinos. She has participated in leadership and learning opportunities through membership in the Economic Club of Chicago, the Broad Residency in Urban Education and Leadership Greater Chicago. She volunteers as a mentor at 1871, Chicago’s tech entrepreneurship hub, the Baumhart Center at Loyola University, and the Ladder, a program of Chicago Innovation.

Her extensive board service includes National Louis University, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Albert Pick Jr. Fund, Chicago Public Education Fund, Chicago Public Library Foundation, and Chicago United. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania and bachelor’s degree in Latin American Studies from Scripps College. Andrea, an immigrant from Ecuador, grew up in Los Angeles and calls Chicago home, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and cats.