Iliana Vargas Informing better public school policies

Torres Mendivil

Chicago on July

IT Impact is a Microsoft partner located in Chicago and with employees in North and South America.

Age: 35

Title: Director of Planning and Data Management

Organization: Chicago Public Schools

�s they sa� fie�d hospita�s going up as the pandemic took hold, they created a free tool to allow organizations to keep track of ��� inventory� �ovid �upp�ies Database (COVIDSuppliesDatabase. com). It is a simple inventory system that comes loaded with many of the items a fie�d hospita� cou�d need� including many models of ventilators, and is easier than using a spreadsheet.

In her role as director of planning and data management at Chicago Public Schools, Iliana Vargas leads a team of analysts to evaluate and synthesize data about district enrollment, school choice patterns, and demographic trends to help inform district planning.

JACQUELINE SOTO

Manager of Community Affairs

Norwegian American Hospital

Paola has been tireless in her care not only for her patients, but for her fellow staff as well. She has been nominated as a Healthcare Hero by her colleague Itzel Gonzalez, a medical assistant at Rush, who says, “I’ve seen Dr. Susan very tired and exhausted, working on barely any rest or sleep. Despite this, she has been helping in the Emergency Department during this challenging time and still in the clinic helping her patients� �he rocks�� can immigrants, Vargas believes the analysis of data should be done with specific attention to the tenets of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

14, 2019. During her diplomatic career she has held various positions in the Mexican general director for Latin America and the Caribbean, and deputy general director for international policy on human rights. Before her current position in Chicago, she was consul general in San Antonio, Texas. Torres Mendivil was a resident fellow at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Deputy District Chief Chicago Fire Department

Prior to this role, Vargas oversaw the creation of school quality and performance measures for over 600 district and charter schools. Her approach to working with data within the public sector draws from her training as an academic researcher at Northwestern University. Additionally, as a firstgeneration college student and daughter of Mexi-

For the last seven years, Soto has worked

Vargas received a graduate research fellowship from the National Science Foundation in 2012. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Arizona, where she graduated magna cum laude, as well as a master’s degree and doctorate from Northwestern University. She credits her success to her parents who nurtured her innate curiosity from a young age, instilled a strong work ethic, and always supported her.

Velez grew up in Humboldt Park and is a 25-year-veteran of the Chicago �ire �epartment� the second �argest fire department in the country. As deputy district chief he assists with the dayto-day operation of the department. In addition to advising the fire commissioner and first deputy on administrative and operational matters, he is also responsible for �udget preparation� staffing� assisting with legal matters and representing the department in meetings with agencies and outside organizations.

JESSE VERA

Motor Transport Coordinator

Norwegian American Hospital

Age: 34

Title: President up in the Little Village neighborhood and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago.