Awards of Distinction 2024: Distinguished Alumni Award: Andrea E. Hall, MSW ’05

With more than 18 years’ experience serving Chicago families, Andrea Hall (Drea) has advocated for affordable housing, passed legislation and policies to reform the criminal justice system, worked with students and families to increase parent engagement, trained faith institutions on community organizing, and collaborated with national partners to reduce racial inequities in the juvenile justice system. Drea’s personal experiences with poverty and homelessness have shaped her into a dedicated advocate and community organizer working to create a more just and equitable Chicago.
Throughout her career, she has been committed to racial equity, equal access to education, and empowering individuals to identify their own needs and pursue them. Drea previously served as the Executive Director of the IL Juvenile Justice Commission (IJJC) and IDHS for four years. In that role, she was responsible for federal grant writing and management and served as the grant monitor for federal grants. Drea firmly believes in the power of government to strengthen communities and has dedicated her work to building collaborations across diverse stakeholders to maximize positive outcomes. She currently serves as the CEO at Methodist Youth Services Incorporated (MYSI).
Drea earned her bachelor’s degree from University Wisconsin-Whitewater and her Master of Social Work degree from Washington University in St. Louis.