Board of Directors

Chicago State Foundation’s Board of Directors, composed of business and civic leaders from the Greater Chicagoland Region, provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance to guide the Foundation’s work. Directors serve as trusted advisors to the Executive Director and as ambassadors of the Foundation and University.

John C. robak

John C. Robak
Board Chair

Lafayette Kyle Ford

Lafayette Kyle Ford
Board Vice Chair

Senior Financial Advisor | Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

Joseph Cancila

Joseph Cancila, Jr.
Board Secretary

Partner | Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila, LLP

Leslie Anderson

Leslie Anderson-Rutland
Board Treasurer

National Head of U.S. Wealth

Management Customer and

Employee Strategy | BMO Financial Group

Erin Inman

Erin Inman
Memeber at Large, Executive Committee

President & CEO | Primera Engineers, Ltd.

Yemi Akisanya

Yemi Akisanya

Vice President, Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and People Experience | Axon

Andre Baker

Andre Baker

Market Director, Banking |
JP Morgan Chase

Dorothy Capers

Dorothy Capers

Senior Vice President & General Counsel | Xylem, Inc

Spring Capers

Spring Capers

Owner & CEO |

Spring’s Place - The Hair Studio

Donna Coaxum

Donna Coaxum

Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary | OSI Group, LLC

Eric Dushime

Eric Dushime

Senior Information Technology Consultant | McKinsey & Company

Kristin Finney-Cooke

Kristin Finney-Cooke

Managing Director, Multi-Asset Solutions | J.P. Morgan Asset Management

Kimberly Evans

Kimberly Evans

EVP, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion & Social Impact | Northern Trust

Jeanne M. Gills

Jeanne M. Gills

Partner | Foley & Lardner, LLC

Michael Harris

Michael T. Harris

President | Beverly Bank & Trust

Nick Hnatiw

Nick Hnatiw

Partner & Chief Technology Officer | Side Channel Security, Ltd

Katrina Jackson

Katrina Jackson

Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Talent Management | Adtalem Global Education

Jason Mercer

Jason Mercer

Principal, CASTUS Due Diligence | Cleveland Avenue

Peggy Montes

Peggy Montes

President | Bronzeville Children's Museum

Ex Officio Members

Zaldwaynaka Scott

Zaldwaynaka Scott

President | Chicago State University

Melanie Sillas

Melanie Sillas

Executive Director | Chicago State Foundation