Andrea Vallejo is a seasoned government affairs professional and a steadfast advocate for uplifting the voices of those who’ve been long left out of state-level decision-making.
Illinois and Mexico-grown, Andrea is the proud daughter of undocumented immigrants and a first-generation student. From the moment her parents decided to leave their generational home and move to the United States, Andrea’s North Star has been giving back to her community, her state, and her nation through service.
Passionate about bridging gaps and forging connections between stakeholders and government, Andrea currently serves as the Deputy Director of Public Engagement at the Office of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. In her role, Andrea acts as a direct liaison between the Governor’s Office and local governments, municipalities, and community organizations. Through her long-standing grassroots connections with local Collar Counties officials, Latin consulates, and Latino community leaders, Andrea provides valuable expertise to both external stakeholders and the Governor’s Office.
Prior to her current position, Andrea was selected for the Illinois James Dunn Fellowship within the External Affairs team in 2020—rapidly rising the ranks and becoming an integral part of the Governor’s team as the Government Affairs Manager. She previously served as the Alumni Liaison for the Smithsonian Latino Center’s Young Ambassadors Program in Washington D.C., a nationally recognized program that fosters the next generation of Latino community-conscious leaders across the country, and as the Co-Chair of the YAP Advisory Board for the National Museum of the American Latino.
Andrea was recognized as a 2023 Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation (CLCF) Leadership Academy Fellow and continues to work with CLCF to foster the next generation of Latinx leaders. Andrea holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Policy from Aurora University, where she received the highest honor of her graduating class, co-founded the organization Helping Others Prepare and Excel (HOPE) to support undocumented students, and co-authored Today’s Young Inspired Latina Volume I. Looking ahead, Andrea hopes to pursue a Juris Doctorate—uniting her interests in law and government to continue building bridges across working-class and Latinx communities and government institutions.
Words of Wisdom: “When things don’t work out as expected, it’s the universe redirecting you towards something greater.” -Andrea Vallejo.
