Gov. Pritzker Announces Nine Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

Ann McIntyre will continue to serve as the Inspector General of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.* McIntyre currently serves as Inspector General for the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), a position she has held since 2022. Previously, McIntyre served on staff in the Office of the Inspector General at DCFS for 27 years, most recently as Chief Legal Counsel. McIntyre is a part of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Association of Inspectors General. Previously, McIntyre served on the DCFS Conflict of Interest Committee and the St. Giles School Board. McIntyre earned her Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from University of Notre Dame and her Master of Social Work and Juris Doctorate from Loyola University.

McIntyre’s appointment is effective January 31, 2026.

Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee

Stephanie Altman will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee.* Altman is Of Counsel at the Legal Council for Health Justice. Previously, she served as Director of Healthcare Justice and Senior Director of Policy at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. There, Altman represented clients in individual and class actions related to healthcare equity, and she advocated for accessible healthcare through administrative and legislative forums. Altman served on the board of healthcare organization Telligen, the National Quality Forum Measure Applications Partnership Medicaid Child Task Force, and the Legal Aid Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. Altman received the Loretta Lacey Child Health Advocacy Award in 2011 from the Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health, the Esther R. Rothstein Award in 2010 from the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois, and the Child Health Advocates Award in 2005 from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Altman earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Grinnell College and her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University’s School of Law.

Paula Campbell will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee.* Campbell currently serves as Associate Vice President of Health Access and Emergency Response at the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA). Previously, Campbell served as Director of Health Equity and Emergency Response at the IPHCA. In these roles, Campbell has managed community outreach and enrollment efforts, provided strategic direction in assisting members with marketplace plans, and maintained relationships with health insurance providers and state and local government entities. Campbell is active in her community, currently serving as President of the Macoupin Montgomery Addiction and Behavior Health Coalition, President of the Carlinville Middle School Parent Teacher Organization, and as Member of the Carlinville Youth Soccer Board. Campbell earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Illinois State University.

Wendy Epstein will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee.* Epstein currently serves as Vincent de Paul Professor of Law and Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Professional Development at DePaul University College of Law. Previously, Epstein served as Of Counsel for commercial litigation at Kirkland and Ellis LLP. Epstein has shared her legal knowledge at University of Chicago, University of Arizona, and Loyola University law schools as Visiting Professor. Her teaching and research are focused on health care law and policy, and she was recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the LA Times, the Chicago Tribune, STAT News, and The Conversation. While studying at Harvard Law School, Epstein was Editor in Chief of the Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics, Executive Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Gender, and she co-authored an internet privacy course for the Berkman Center for Internet and Society. Epstein earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School.

Lance Kovacs will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee.* Kovacs currently serves as Assistant Vice President of Health Policy and Regulation for the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, leading on key regulatory issues impacting hospitals. Previously, Kovacs served as Assistant Director of the Illinois State Medical Society. Early in his career, Kovacs served the State of Illinois as with the Illinois Department of Aging and as a James H. Dunn Fellow with the Office of the Governor’s Legislative Affairs team. In his current role, Kovacs covers a wide array of policy issues, including the Certificate of Need Program, the Hospital Licensing Act, perinatal and maternal levels of care, supplier diversity, and health care professional licensure. Kovacs earned his Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and his Master of Arts in Political Science from University of Illinois Springfield.

Illinois Forensic Science Commission

Claire Dragovich will continue to serve as Chair of the Illinois Forensic Science Commission.* Dragovich currently serves as Laboratory Director and Quality Manager of the DuPage County Forensic Science Center (DPC-FSC). Previously, Dragovich was Forensic Drug Chemist and Supervisor of the Chemistry and Microscopy Section at DPC-FSC. The laboratory at the DPC-FSC provides forensic services on seized drugs, latent prints, and forensic biology and DNA to over 30 law enforcement agencies within DuPage County. Dragovich is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the laboratory, including personnel, purchasing, grant management, accreditation conformance, and quality issues. Dragovich holds certificant status in drug analysis from the American Board of Criminalistics. She is part of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, an Associate Member of the Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists Association, and Member of the Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists. Dragovich earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Benedictine University and a certificate in Forensic Drug Chemistry from University of Florida.

Illinois State Museum Board

Dr. Tamira Brennan will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois State Museum Board.* Brennan currently serves as Section Head of Curation and Associate Research Scientist for the Illinois State Archaeological Survey at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)’s Prairie Research Institute. Previously, Brennan served as a Curator and Research Scientist at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Center for Archaeological Investigations. Brennan has nearly three decades of experience practicing archaeology in the Midwest, specializing in the late pre-contact era communities of southern Illinois and southeastern Missouri. In addition to her archaeological work, Brennan teaches summer excavation methods and collection management courses at UIUC. Brennan earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her Master of Arts in Anthropology and Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission

Daniel Fenske will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission.* Fenske currently serves as Partner at Mayer Brown LLP. Previously, he served as Partner and Litigator at Jenner and Block LLP. In these roles, Fenske has gained substantial experience in antitrust investigations, regulatory issues, and commercial litigation. Fenske earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Marquette University and his Juris Doctorate from Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law.

Labor Advisory Board

Steven Avalos will continue to serve as a Member of the Labor Advisory Board.* Avalos currently serves as Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Labor and Employee Relations with Verano Holdings, where he manages external legal counsel and ensures compliance in employment matters. Previously, Avalos was Executive Director of Labor and Employee Relations at CVS Health and Senior Director at Molson Coors Beverage Company. At Molson Coors, he successfully led the company’s strategy around collective bargaining and employee benefits, and he served as the chief negotiator in arbitrations and grievances proceedings across the company. An active member of his community, Avalos serves on the Board of Trustees of the Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois and on the In-House Counsel Committee for the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois. Avalos earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and East Asian Languages, as well as his Juris Doctorate, from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.

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