Ana Vargas

Ana Vargas brings more than 15 years of experience building communications infrastructure, shaping organizational narratives, and driving earned media impact for mission-driven education and civic organizations across Chicago and the nation.

As Chief Communications Officer at Metropolitan Planning Council, Ana leads strategic communications, brand strategy, integrated marketing, public affairs, and media engagement—helping the organization clarify its story and connect authentically with the audiences that matter most.

Before joining MPC, Ana served as Strategic Communications Manager at Transcend, a national nonprofit, where she counseled senior leadership on organizational positioning and secured coverage in outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, and The Atlantic—reaching more than 22 million people. She has also held senior communications leadership roles at Achievement Network and Teach For America , where she managed teams, guided executives through high-stakes media moments, and developed multi-year storytelling strategies that deepened stakeholder trust and expanded organizational reach.

Earlier in her career, Ana served as Deputy Press Secretary at Chicago Public Schools, acting as bilingual spokesperson for the $6 billion school district—advising senior leadership on legislative testimony, crisis response, and community engagement. She also led communications at City Colleges of Chicago, where she grew media coverage by 500% and launched a social media strategy that significantly expanded the system’s public presence.

Ana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Yale University and is a proud CPS graduate. She is based in Chicago.