Erin Harkey is the First Deputy Commissioner of the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), responsible for overseeing Programming, External Events, Facilities, Finance, Marketing, Partnerships, Special Projects, and Human Resources. She also maintains a dual role as Senior Policy Advisor for Arts in Culture, Office of the Mayor, wherein she advises on cultural policy and arts strategy across all city departments and agencies.

Erin holds two master’s degrees in Public Art Administration and Urban Planning from the University of Southern California (USC) and a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Howard University.