Gerardo Bonilla Chavez is director of government affairs at The Century Foundation. In this capacity, he helps elected officials and staff understand education, health care, and economic public policy, and finds creative ways to implement them. Rooted in the belief that government can and must serve the public good, Gerardo works to advance tangible results for communities too often left behind.
Gerardo is a seasoned strategist, manager, policy advisor, and coalition builder with deep experience advancing progressive priorities at the highest levels of government. A former chief of staff to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Gerardo has led a high-performing congressional team through a period of national visibility and legislative impact. He has also held several senior roles across Congress and federal agencies, helping to shape major legislative efforts to rein in corporate power, expand worker protections, build economic security for working families, and strengthen democratic institutions.
Gerardo holds a master’s in public policy with a concentration in advanced policy analysis from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and a bachelor of arts in political science with a minor in global studies from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. He is a proud alumnus of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Public Policy Fellowship (2011–12) and the recipient of multiple awards for his leadership and service.