Andrea is an associate based in the Chicago, Illinois office. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science & Public Policy from Aurora University had interned for Illinois State Rep. Barbara Hernandez and volunteered as a Legal Aid under AmeriCorps’s JusticeCorps program. Before joining Mercury, Andrea worked as an Executive Assistant to the President and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project – a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to ending cannabis prohibition state by state. In this role, she was responsible for monitoring the organization’s operations, tracking donor communications, and executing a wide range of administrative tasks on behalf of the President and CEO to ensure smooth executive functions. Andrea’s exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail helped the organization run efficiently and effectively.

Andrea also served as the James Dunn Fellow for the Senior Advisor on Cannabis to the Illinois Governor. In this position, she collaborated closely with the Cannabis Regulation and Oversight Office to research and enhance the regulatory framework for cannabis in Illinois. Andrea facilitated cabinet meetings among the 13 state regulatory agencies, closely monitored the laws and regulations of other states, and provided the Senior Advisor with relevant information pertaining to Illinois’ cannabis and hemp program. She also interviewed candidates and presented nominees to the Illinois Governor for the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board.