Joe Judge Part Of Edgar Fellows Program 12th class

Forty-one leaders from across Illinois to meet in Champaign, August 4 through 8

URBANA, IL — In a highly competitive process, forty-one public policy leaders from across Illinois have been selected for the 2024 class of the Edgar Fellows Program. The group will meet for the first time at their Executive Leadership Training Program held August 4 through 8 on the University of Illinois (UI) campus in Urbana-Champaign.

Established in 2012, the Edgar Fellows Program is a leadership initiative designed by former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar to inspire respectful collaboration in addressing the state's major challenges. The Fellows selected for the class of 2024 reflect Illinois’ political, racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity. They include elected and appointed officials from all levels of government; leaders of non-profit and labor organizations; and individuals who are influencing public policy in the business world.  

“Each year, the Edgar Fellows Program brings together a group of leaders with different backgrounds and different politics from across Illinois,” Gov. Edgar said. “Though they each have their own unique life experiences, they find out that they have more in common than they have that separates them.

 “With each class, it has been gratifying to watch people who were strangers on Sunday become good friends by Thursday. It’s what the Edgar Fellows program is all about, finding common ground and respect, so that our Fellows can work together to help shape a better Illinois.”

During their time in Champaign, the new Fellows will engage with experienced public policy practitioners who are experts in issues that include artificial intelligence, the SAFE-T Act, workforce development, climate change, philanthropies, Medicaid, and the state budget. More importantly, they will learn from each other and begin building relationships that will last throughout their careers.

The 2024 class will bring the number of Fellows who are part of the program to nearly 500. After completing the initial training seminar, Fellows continue to meet at alumni gatherings designed to increase their knowledge and help build their professional networks. The next time they will have this opportunity to gather is at the program’s annual fundraiser in Chicago on September 12 at the Hyatt Regency. This event is open to the general public. More information about the dinner, including how to sponsor the event or purchase individual tickets can be found at www.edgarfellows.org.

Donors to the Edgar Fellows Program include individuals, corporations, foundations, labor organizations, and others who are interested in promoting competent, ethical and solution-oriented leadership in Illinois. An advisory board led by Chair Emeritus Alexander Lerner, the Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois State Medical Society, and Chair, Allen Grosboll, former senior policy advisor to Governor Edgar, helps to guide the program. Other board members are Fellows and long-time supporters of the program who, between them, have decades of experience in Illinois public policy.

Administered and funded through the efforts of the Edgar Fellows 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Edgar Fellows Program is housed at the U of I System’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs in Urbana.  

The Edgar Fellows Class of 2024 is listed below. Photos are available upon request.

Liandro Arellano, Jr., Dixon, Candidate for Senate, District 37 

Kevin Artl, Naperville, President and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois

Chris Balkema, Channahon, Candidate for Senate, District 53

Yasmeen Bankole, Hanover Park, Trustee of the Village of Hanover Park and Regional Director for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin

Precious Brady-Davis, Chicago, Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and Chief Strategy Officer at The Center on Halsted

Representative Jason Bunting, Emington

Sydney Corryn Holman, Chicago, Deputy Mayor for Intergovernmental Affairs, City of Chicago

Ryan Croke, Springfield, First Assistant Deputy Governor for health and human services

Christopher Curtis, Mayor of Kankakee

Regan Deering, Decatur, Candidate for State Representative, District 88

Yaacov Delaney, Chicago, Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Justice Equity & Opportunity Initiative for Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton

James Dillon, Peoria, Peoria County Board Chair and Associate Director of the West Central Building and Construction Trades Council

Isabel Dobbel, Chicago, Political Director for the Chicago Federation of Labor

Representative Laura Faver Dias, Grayslake

Kari Galassi, Hinsdale, DuPage County Board Member

Graciela Guzman, Chicago, candidate for Senate, District 20

Chynna Hampton, Chatham, Equity Director for Climate Jobs Illinois at the Illinois AFL-CIO

Carolin Harvey, Mayor of Carbondale

Jared M. Hawkinson, Knoxville, Knox County Board Chair and Knoxville Police Officer

Latoya Hughes, South Holland, Acting Director, Illinois Department of Corrections

Representative Hoan Huynh, Chicago

Representative Lilian Jimenez, Chicago

Elizabeth Johnston, Normal, McLean County Board Vice Chair and Owner of Johnston Financial Services

Joseph Judge, Mayor of Mt. Carmel

Jennifer Konen, Village President of Sugar Grove

Representative Nicole La Ha, Homer Glen

Eric Lind, Mayor of Eureka

Senator Meg Loughran Cappel, Shorewood

Chase McCall, Gibson City, Ford County Board Member and Government Affairs Coordinator at State Farm

David McEllis, Chicago, Illinois Legislative Director at the Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest

SJ Morrison, Edwardsville, Alderman in Ward 4, Executive Director of the Agency for Community Transit and Managing Director of the Madison County Transit

Representative Kevin Olickal, Skokie

Jordan Powell, Rochester, Senior Vice President of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association

Gerson Ramirez, Chicago, Senior Government Relations Associate at Advance Illinois

Julia Ramirez, Chicago, Alderman, 12th Ward

Erendira Rendon, Chicago, Vice President of The Resurrection Project

Cassaundra Rouse, Flossmoor, Executive Director of the Illinois Tollway

Carolyn Schofield, Crystal Lake, Legislative Assistant to Senator Don DeWitte, former Lt. Governor Candidate and former McHenry County Board Vice Chair

Patrick Schweska, Chicago, Manager of Public Policy for the Midwest Region at Amazon Web Services

Benjamin Taylor, Chicago, Vice President, Public Engagement for the Central Midwest Region at JPMorgan Chase

Representative Travis Weaver, Edwards