- Pritzker Fellows
- Current Fellows
- Gerardo Bonilla Chavez
Gerardo Bonilla Chavez
Former Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Gerardo Bonilla Chavez is the former Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14). Gerardo has over a decade of public service and campaign experience; before his tenure as Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, he served in senior roles in both the House and Senate. He previously was a political appointee during the Obama Administration at the Department of Commerce. Beyond his time at the federal government, Gerardo has also worked at the municipal and state level.
He holds a Masters in Public Policy degree with a concentration in advanced policy analysis from the University Of Minnesota - Humphrey Institute Of Public Affairs and a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science with minor in Global Studies from the University of Minnesota. He is a recipient of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Public Policy Fellowship (‘11-‘12) and recipient of the multiple awards.
Seminars
“From Periphery to Power: The Remarkable Rise of the Progressive Movement in America, a Deep Look At Political & Legislative Lessons on Capitol Hill”
Until last month, Gerardo Bonilla Chavez was the Chief of Staff for New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14). The son of migrant farmworkers from Mexico, Bonilla Chavez has had a lifelong interest and work experience in progressive ecosystems and grassroots movements. After a career that spanned local and federal roles, he found himself in a rare front row seat to some of the nation’s biggest political and policy battles at the side of one of the most high-profile members of Congress. In winter quarter, Gerardo will walk us through how progressives went from long shot candidates to the halls of Congress; in the spring, he will provide interactive workshops that illuminate how the sausage is made or destroyed.
Seminar one will be a frank conversation about how neoliberal policies and administrations shaped his upbringing, politics and ultimately career decisions. We’ll dive into other factors and dynamics that brought him to public service and the movement, examining key positions, and defining/unprecedented moments in Washington. This first seminar will also contextualize his theory of change, approach to political and progressive ecosystems and serve as an opportunity to understand/learn how participants’ work can translate into feasible careers in politics.