Iyana currently serves as the City Programs Director at the Illinois Environmental Council, where she oversees advocacy, coalition building, aldermanic relationships and organizing related to environmental issues before the City of Chicago. In this role, she led a successful two-year campaign to re-establish the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment and also supported the 2023 Chicago mayoral transition team.
Previously, she served in several roles at IEC, including Clean Water Policy Director, Clean Water Advocate, and Intern. In her most recent role as Clean Water Policy Director, she oversaw policy development, coalition building, and advocacy related to water issues in Illinois. Iyana’s work continues to ensure water, among other environmental issues, are salient to both the public and decision-makers. Iyana currently co-leads the Illinois Water Justice Coalition, which works toward equity and justice in water infrastructure decisions. In 2024, Iyana was named a Wavemaker by the Alliance for the Great Lakes in recognition of her coalition work. Additionally, she has served on the Illinois Lead Service Line Replacement Advisory Board since 2022 and was previously a member of the Chicago Lead Service Line Replacement Advisory Group before it was dissolved in early 2023.
Prior to working at IEC, she attended the University of Illinois at Chicago and graduated with honors with a degree in Public Policy and a Sustainable Cities minor. Outside of her work, Iyana enjoys engaging in local politics, painting, hiking, and traveling. She is also a member of the Environmentalists of Color Network and the Chicago Urban League’s Metropolitan Board.