Alejandra Y. Castillo
Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development
Chicago, IL
Experience
- Former Asst. US Secretary, Economic Development Administration
- Chancellor Senior Fellow for Economic Development, Purdue University Northwest
- Former CEO, YWCA-USA
- Former National Director, Minority Business Development Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce
Expertise
- U.S. Economic policy
- Employment and the labor market
- Trade and tariffs
- GDP growth, inflation
- Economic impacts on communities of color
Education
- American University Washington College of Law, J.D.
- The LBJ School of Public Affairs, M.A.
- Stony Brook University, B.A.
Recent Coverage
MAR 29. 2026
Northwest Indiana Times: Taking America’s Pulse – Why I left Washington for the Heartland
Alejandra Castillo writes: Thirty years in Washington taught me that policy resides in documents, but America is found in the places we call “home.” After leading the Economic Development Administration into the largest federal initiative in place-based development in a generation, I did something that shocked my D.C. colleagues. I got rid of my belongings and moved from the Beltway to the Heartland. Not to retire from the work, but to do it where it counts most, where people, places and possibilities converge.
JAN 27, 2026
Noticias Univision
Alejandra Castillo joined Noticias Univision to discuss the economic contributions of immigrants and how current immigration enforcement is impacting local communities.
DEC 15, 2025
Opinion: America’s quantum future depends on regional ecosystems like Chicago’s
“The race for quantum leadership is often framed as a geopolitical contest between nations,”Alejandra writes. “But the real battleground is local. It unfolds in the places where people build, test, manufacture and ultimately deploy the technologies that will redefine global power. For the United States, success will depend not only on federal investment but on strengthening regional ecosystems across communities with the industrial capacity, workforce, research infrastructure and civic alignment required to turn scientific breakthroughs into a national competitive advantage.”
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About Alejandra
Alejandra Y. Castillo, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, with expert insight on how inflation, trade policies, and the labor market shifts are impacting minority-owned businesses and the broader U.S. Economy
Alejandra Y. Castillo is a trailblazing public servant and economist with over two decades of strategic leadership across multiple presidential administrations and nonprofit institutions. She provides expert analysis on the impact of slowing GDP growth, rising inflation, and shifting trade policies, including tariffs, on minority-owned businesses and the broader U.S. economy.
A first-generation American and daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Castillo’s journey reflects a profound commitment to equity and community empowerment. Most recently, she served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, the first woman of color to be appointed to this position, where she oversaw federal investments to drive equitable growth. She served in leadership roles for three presidents – Biden, Obama and Clinton.
During her time serving under President Obama, Castillo became the first Hispanic woman to lead the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), where she led efforts to boost growth and global competitiveness for minority business enterprises (MBEs). Earlier in her career, she also served at the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration and as Senior Policy Analyst at the White House. Prior to EDA, Castillo was the Chief Executive Officer of YWCA USA, where she championed the 163-year-old organization delivering critical social, educational, and economic development services throughout its 204 associations. Castillo holds degrees in economics, political science, public affairs, and law.
Castillo is a native Spanish and English speaker. She has been featured as a commentator or guest on Univision, Telemundo, CNN en Español, La Opinión, and El Tiempo Latino, as well as Spanish-language radio programs.
