CHICAGO – Today Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced Michael Crowley will serve as communications director for the Mayor’s Office. In this role, Crowley will oversee day-to-day communications strategy for the Mayor’s Office, as well as the communications staff serving nearly 30 city departments and agencies. Crowley is a veteran communications and operations expert, bringing over ten years of management experience to a key role on the Mayor’s senior team.

 “As we continue to create a government that reflects the experience and needs of Chicago’s residents, it is essential that we engage the public with continued responsiveness and transparency every step of the way,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “Michael’s extensive experience as a communications expert and in leadership roles with After School Matters, along with his service giving back to our city’s communities, will allow him to set the tone and carry the message for the transformative work of my administration.”

Michael Crowley currently serves as Chief of Staff for After School Matters, one of the nation’s leading providers of after-school and summer programs for high school students, serving more than 18,000 teenagers across Chicago each year. In this role, Crowley is part of the leadership team overseeing close to 100 staff and more than 1,000 instructors, and responsible for executing organizational strategy to deliver high quality programming in every community. In addition to leading policy initiatives for the organization, he also serves as government relations lead as well as chief spokesperson. Crowley has 15 years of experience as a communications professional in both the public and private sectors.

 “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve this city and work for this Mayor, someone who is committed to taking on the tough challenges facing the city I love,” said Crowley. “Working to create opportunity for our youth and neighborhoods across Chicago has shaped my views and values, and I look forward to leveraging my experience to further empower our communities.”

Crowley serves on multiple advocacy, policy, and communications committees, including OUT at the Chicago History Museum, and the Alumni Council for the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy Studies. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Government from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy Studies.

Crowley will begin his duties on August 19.

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