Heather is a committed leader in the Chicago education community. She has experience building new teams and initiatives within education nonprofits, accomplishing ambitious goals as a teacher and administrator in Chicago Public Schools, and providing...

Roseanna Ander serves as the founding Executive Director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab and the University of Chicago Education Lab, established in 2008 and 2011, respectively. These research institutions, which have offices in...

Dara Munson has built a career focused on the needs of women and children. Today, she serves Chicagoland as the first African American president and CEO of Family Focus, delivering early childhood education and development,...

Darlene Oliver Hightower, J.D., is President & CEO of Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), an independent nonpartisan regional planning and policy organization. Darlene leads the organization’s strategic vision, shaping ambitious goals that will strengthen the impact...

As CEO of The Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education Group (The CAFE Group), Liz Thompson is deeply engaged in the social innovation and philanthropic communities. The CAFE Group provides financial and programmatic support to Leaders...

Melissa T. Merrick, PhD, is President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America), the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the primary prevention of child abuse and neglect. She has more...

As president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust, one of the nation’s largest and oldest community foundations, Andrea Sáenz works to bring to life a vision to realize a stronger and more prosperous Chicago...

Felicia Davis Blakley is the CEO of Primo Center, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to providing shelter, support, and services to families experiencing homelessness. Under her leadership, Primo Center takes a holistic approach to breaking the...

Sharon Bush is the President of Grand Victoria Foundation, a $150 million grantmaking organization with annual giving of $10 million to nonprofit organizations across Illinois. With over 20 years in the social sector, Sharon has...

Na’ilah Suad Nasir is the sixth President of the Spencer Foundation which invests in education research that cultivates learning and transforms lives. She held a faculty appointment at the University of California, Berkeley from 2008-2019,...