Illinois Tech Adds Chicago Civic Leader Adrienne Irmer as Associate Vice President for External Affairs
Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) announced that Chicago civic and community leader Adrienne Irmer has joined the university as its new associate vice president for external affairs. In her new position, Irmer will oversee a range of government relations initiatives for the university.
Irmer recently served on the legislative staff of Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle, managing legislation from the Cook County Bureau of Asset Management before stepping away to run for elected office.
"I am very excited to join such a dedicated team at Illinois Tech,” said Irmer. “Even in these very uncertain times, so much good is still being achieved on behalf of our students and faculty, and I look forward to doing my part to ensure the success of this vital anchor institution on Chicago's South Side."
As a National Urban Fellow, Irmer received her Master of Public Administration from the City University of New York’s Marxe School of Public and International Affairs and served as special assistant to the city manager for the City of Beverly Hills, California. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“As Chicago’s tech university, Illinois Tech is truly at the epicenter of Chicago’s economic and technological future, and we know that Adrienne’s experience as a leader throughout the region will help us advance the university’s mission even further,” said Jess Goode, Illinois Tech vice president of external affairs.
Irmer is a 2019 fellow with the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership Training Academy, 2018 emerging leader with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, 2017 political partner with the Truman National Security Project, 2017 fellow of the Chicago Urban League IMPACT Leadership Development Program, and is a former chapter co-director for the New Leaders Council, Chicago. Her civic leadership includes the executive board of Social Change, the junior executive board for South Central Community Services, Inc., the advisory board to the Chicago Ideas Week YOU(th) Program, and the junior executive board for the Better Boys Foundation on Chicago’s West Side.
