Julia Epplin-Zapf (she/her) is CDEL’s Policy & Advocacy Manager. She is responsible for forming and sustaining trustworthy and meaningful partnerships to lead CDEL’s advocacy and policy efforts. She also supports CDEL’s policy priorities and local legislative agenda. She joined CDEL in April 2026.

She previously worked as Policy Analyst at the Cook County Commission on Human Rights and within the Development Operations team at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Julia has a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University and B.A. in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Chicago. She is pursuing a Certificate in Advocacy from Cornell University – Brooks School of Public Policy.