Gov. Pritzker Announces Four Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Illinois Community College Board

Lisa Dziekan will serve as a Member of the Illinois Community College Board.* Dziekan is an experienced executive who has worked across the real estate and economic development sectors through public-private partnerships. She currently serves as the Principal of Economic Development at the Lamar Johnson Collaborative, where she leads strategic partnerships that drive growth and impact across the Chicagoland region. Formerly the Senior Vice President of Business Development at World Business Chicago, Dziekan played a key role in creating job opportunities and attracting new investments, helping to position Chicago as a leading destination for corporate relocation and expansion. Dziekan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Economics from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a Master of Arts in Urban Planning and Public Affairs from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Guardianship and Advocacy Commission

Mary Kennelly will continue to serve as a Member of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission.* Kennelly dedicated over 40 years of her career to education, including serving as a special education teacher at Jacksonville School District 117 before retiring in 2015. Currently, she volunteers at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the Jacksonville Area Museum, and with Lincoln Land Community College’s adult literacy program. Kennelly earned a Bachelor of Arts from MacMurray College and a Master of Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Southwestern Illinois Development Authority

Alana Thompson-Byrd will serve as a Member of the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority.* Dr. Thompson-Byrd is the Managing Medical Director for group retiree services in Medicare Advantage and the Midwest market for Medicare Individual. She brings extensive experience in large commercial business from her previous role as the Area Medical Director for Concentra in St. Louis, where she managed seven clinics and collaborated with clients to optimize utilization metrics and drive retention. Dr. Thompson-Byrd has also practiced family medicine, including pediatrics and obstetrics in the St. Louis area. She is also a physician lead for the Inclusive Care Initiative and the Anthem Physician and Clinician for Health Equity Workgroup. Dr. Thompson-Byrd earned her Bachelor of Science from Xavier University of Louisiana, her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, and completed her residency with the Saint Louis University Family Medicine program.

Southwest Regional Port District Board

Jha’Shaira Farmer will serve as a Member of the Southwest Regional Port District Board.* Farmer brings valuable financial accounting and management experience. She currently works as an associate at KPMG in their Federal Finance Transformation department and serves as a logistics specialist in the United States Naval Reserves. Farmer also serves on the Board of Directors at Sinai Family Life Center. Previously, Farmer worked as a transaction data financial analyst with Ernst & Young. Farmer earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor at Southern Illinois University School of Law.

* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.

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