Roberto Lopez

Outstanding Recent Alumni 2021
Roberto Lopez
Consulting Director
CCS Fundraising

When Roberto Lopez began his studies at Harper College, he was the first member of his family to go to college. A decade after his Harper graduation, Lopez is a voice for other first-generation students and underserved individuals, his life and career dedicated to helping those who had an experience similar to his.

Lopez enrolled at Harper in 2009, earning an Associate in Arts degree in 2011. He thinks highly of his time at the college, praising the flexibility of course schedules, a welcoming campus community and instructors who care about students on a personal level.

“The teachers were very open, because they understood the population that they served,” Lopez said, “including working-class kids like me.”

After Harper, he transferred to DePaul University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in finance, and entered the worlds of banking and commercial insurance. Starting his career as an alternative investments analyst, Lopez was then employed by Liberty Mutual Group, where he worked his way from associate analyst to commercial territory manager in the state of Illinois. He also participated in the corporation’s rotational leadership program, which aims to build future leaders.

Indeed, Lopez is a leader. It was that quality, in conjunction with seeking to make the world a better place, that drove him to study public policy at the University of Chicago. In 2020, he graduated with honors and a master’s degree from the university’s Harris School of Public Policy. Lopez was immediately invited to join the student advisory and alumni councils. In these roles, he advocates for the institution to better support first-generation, lower-income, immigrant and undocumented students. Lopez also plans events to connect students with shared life experiences, understanding firsthand the importance of creating community and a sense of belonging.

“Before University of Chicago, before DePaul, it was Harper that believed in me,” Lopez said. “Students hear UC Berkeley or UChicago and think they can’t get there, but hopefully I can show them that they can get there.”

After his time in the financial sector, Lopez followed his desire to assist underserved communities by joining Chicago-based nonprofit Elevate Energy. He educated low-income families and individuals about energy efficiency and how to access it. Currently, Lopez is a consulting director at CCS Fundraising, a global strategic consulting firm that partners with nonprofit organizations to enhance their ability to make an impact.

Lopez is dedicated to working for equity for unserved populations. He hopes his passion, motivation and record of success can serve as inspiration for Harper College students.