Brandie V. Knazze, Commissioner

Chicago Department of Family and Support Services

Brandie Knazze is a native Chicagoan and has served as Commissioner of the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) since June 2021 and has worked for the department for a decade. As the leader of Chicago’s human and social services agency, Ms. Knazze is proud to say that her department serves as the heart of the city. DFSS supports over 450,000 vulnerable residents across eight programmatic divisions including early learning, youth services, homelessness, gender-based violence, workforce development, new arrivals, human services and senior services. Ms. Knazze’s team supports over 350 nonprofit organizations and operates 6 community service centers, 21 senior centers, and a senior information and assistance program.

From 2016 to 2021, Ms. Knazze was DFSS’ First Deputy Commissioner, where she managed daily operations of over 300 staff and the department’s budget of approximately $632 million. Ms. Knazze first joined DFSS in November 2014 as the Deputy Commissioner for IT, Contracts, and Program Monitoring.

As the daughter of an immigrant, Ms. Knazze celebrates her Belizean heritage. She is particularly proud of leading DFSS in addressing challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic that have impacted Chicago’s most vulnerable populations, and in providing vital resources including shelter to over 46,000 asylum seekers since August 2022. Under Ms. Knazze’s leadership, DFSS has also implemented one of the nation’s largest cash assistance pilot programs, and is poised to launch the second in the form of the Chicago Empowerment Fund.

Prior to joining DFSS, Ms. Knazze held several positions in the public sector, contributing on the senior level at the Chicago Public Library, Cook County Government, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. She also was a management consultant for state and local governments specializing in shared services, management reviews, and efficiency studies.

Ms. Knazze holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and women’s studies from Emory University and a master’s degree in public policy and management, regional economic development, and planning from Carnegie Mellon University. She also is a Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO), a 2016 graduate of the University of Chicago Civic Leadership Academy, and has played a leadership role in additional human services organizations, including the Chicago Continuum of Care. In her spare time, Ms. Knazze enjoys reading, traveling, and volunteering.