Dulce M. Quintero was appointed Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) by Governor JB Pritzker in September 2023. Before that, they served as IDHS Assistant Secretary of Operations beginning in 2019, where they led the department’s COVID-19 response with a focus on equity, and oversaw areas such as human capital, information technology, budget, and finance.

Quintero is an award-winning and prominent community builder and innovator, having long served Illinoisans in both the health care and human services sectors, with a particular focus on LGBTQIA services and advocacy. They were inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2017 and they continue be an out and proud LGBTQIA and nonbinary leader, activist, and passionate social change maker.

Before joining IDHS, Quintero served as Director of Operations for the Erie Humboldt Park Health Center, a community health center providing affordable and comprehensive medical services on Chicago’s Northwest side. There, they led day-to-day operations and implemented programs including a comprehensive HIV Care program, dental services, and a family practice medical residency. Under their leadership, the health center grew to serve over 9,400 patients annually.

Quintero also founded and operated the Casa Corazon Youth Drop-in Program at La Casa Norte, one of Chicago’s few safe spaces serving LGBTQIA youth on the city’s West Side. Quintero was born in Mexico to migrant farm workers and moved to Chicago at age nine.

Quintero’s community engagement has included their high-level involvement in the Chicago Dyke March and service as a founding board member of Orgullo en Acción where they helped organize the Chicago Latino Pride Picnic, the first event of its kind. They currently serve as a board member of the Association of Latinos Motivating Action.

Quintero holds a bachelor’s degree from University of California-Davis, and they have completed a non-profit leadership academy with The Center for Leadership. Quintero credits the integration of their identities as a Mexican immigrant, LGBTQIA activist, former street vendor, member of the community of people with disabilities, and non-profit leader as meaningfully informing their career at IDHS.