Andrea Sáenz named Lake Forest College Commencement speaker

Andrea Sáenz, president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust, will deliver the 2024 Lake Forest College Commencement address on Saturday, May 11.

As the Commencement speaker, Sáenz will receive an honorary doctorate during the ceremony at Ravinia Festival Park in Highland Park.

Sáenz is an immigrant from Ecuador who grew up in Los Angeles and came to Chicago as an adult. She has dedicated her career to re-imagining civic institutions to engage and serve people impacted by inequitable access to opportunities, aligning with the Trust’s legacy of addressing the greatest and most critical needs facing the Chicago region.

As president and CEO of one of the nation’s largest and oldest community foundations, Sáenz works to bring to life a vision to realize a stronger and more prosperous Chicago region where access to opportunities transcends race, ethnicity, or ZIP code. She has experienced the obstacles that many Chicagoans face as they strive to build financial stability and prosperity and is committed to narrowing the racial and ethnic wealth gap in the Chicago region.

Considered one of Chicago’s leaders making a difference, Crain’s Chicago Business recently included Sáenz on its “Who’s Who in Chicago” list and its inaugural “Women of Note” list in 2023. Sáenz holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in Latin American Studies from Scripps College.

Founded in 1857, Lake Forest College is a selective residential, national liberal arts institution located at 555 N. Sheridan in Lake Forest. The College has 1,650 students representing nearly every state and more than 100 countries. Lake Forest College has a long tradition of academic excellence and is known for its innovative curriculum and focus on career preparation. The Wall Street Journal recently ranked Lake Forest College the Best Liberal Arts College in the Midwest. Explore the College at lakeforest.edu.