Our Board

 

Our Board

 

Advance Illinois board members are passionate leaders from both the public and private sectors who believe in creating an equitable education system for all Illinois students.

 
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Members

*Founding Member

  • John A. Edwardson*, Co-Chair

    Former Chairman and CEO, CDW

  • Marin Gjaja, Co-Chair

    Chief Customer Officer,
    Ford Model e

  • HON. William M. Daley*, Founding Co-Chair

    Vice Chairman of Public Affairs, Wells Fargo; Former White House Chief of Staff

  • HON. Jim Edgar*, Founding Co-Chair

    Former Governor of Illinois

  • Ellen Alberding*

    President, The Joyce Foundation

  • Jason Barickman

    Partner, Fairlawn Capital and Meyer Capel, PC

  • Harry Berman

    Former Executive Director, Illinois Board of Higher Education

  • Becky Betts

    Former Chief Marketing & External Affairs Officer,
    A Better Chicago

  • Lew Collens*

    President Emeritus, Illinois Institute of Technology

  • REV. K. Edward Copeland

    Pastor, New Zion Baptist Church & Chair, Alignment Rockford

  • HON. John Cullerton

    Former Illinois Senate President

  • Judy Erwin

    Managing Director, Kivvit

  • Shayne Evans

    Founder & Managing Partner, The Academy Group

  • Gary Fencik

    Senior Partner, Adams Street Partners

  • James C. Franczek, JR.*

    Founding Partner and President, Franczek P.C.

  • Janice K. Jackson, EdD

    Chief Executive Officer, Hope Chicago

  • Clare Muñana

    President of Ancora Associates, Inc.

  • Lynda Parker

    Assistant Superintendent/Principal, Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200

  • Sylvia Puente*

    Executive Director, Latino Policy Forum

  • Bill Polasky

    10th-12th Grade Teacher, Meridian Community Unit School District 223, Educator Advisory Council Member

  • Juan Salgado

    Chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago

  • Sonia W. Soltero, PhD

    Professor and Department Chair, College of Education, DePaul University

  • Sara R. Stoelinga

    President & CEO, Easterseals Chicago

  • Jason J. Tyler

    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Northern Trust

  • Kristy N. Waterman

    Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, TreeHouse Foods