Updated as of October 22, 2025
| Appointee Name | Appointing Entity | Affiliation/ Organization |
Appointment Category | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ginger Ostro | IBHE | Illinois Board of Higher Education | Co-Chair | 10/31/2027 |
| Stephanie Schmitz-Bechteler | IBHE | Illinois Student Assistance Commission | Illinois Student Assistance Commission | 10/31/2027 |
| Francis Godwyll | IBHE | Illinois State University | Other Experts | 10/31/2027 |
| Lisa Downey | IBHE | National Louis University | Private University, College of Education | 10/31/2028 |
| Laurie Elish-Piper | IBHE | Northern Illinois University | Rural Public University, College of Education | 10/31/2027 |
| Joi Patterson | IBHE | Governors State University | Suburban Public University, College of Education | 10/31/2028 |
| Jennifer Buchter | IBHE | Eastern Illinois University | Union Representing Higher Education Faculty | 10/31/2027 |
| Kimberly McClellan | IBHE | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Union Representing Higher Education Faculty | 10/31/2028 |
| Tom Philion | IBHE | Northeastern Illinois University | Urban Public University, College of Education | 10/31/2026 |
| Adrienne Pickett | ICCB | Illinois Community College Board | Co-Chair | 10/31/2027 |
| Jim Reed | ICCB | Illinois Community College Trustee Association |
Organization that Advocates on Behalf of Community College Trustees |
10/31/2028 |
| Ken Trzaska | ICCB | Community College Presidents Council, Lewis & Clark Community College | Other Experts | 10 /31/2027 |
| Meredith Palmer | ICCB | Richland College | Rural Community College | 10/31/2028 |
| Tywanda Jiles | ICCB | Prairie State College | Suburban Community College | 10/31/2027 |
| Kate Connor | IBHE | Harry S. Truman College | Urban Community College | 10/31/2028 |
| Edie Washington | IDCFS | Illinois Department of Child & Family Services | Department of Children and Family Services | 10/31/2027 |
| Ann Whalen | IDEC | Illinois Department of Early Childhood | Co-Chair | 10/31/2027 |
| Rochelle Golliday | IDEC | Cuddlee Care | Community-Based Child Care Provider | 10/31/2026 |
| Stephanie Neuman | IDEC | Kountry Kids Learning Center | Employer in Central Illinois | 10/31/2025 |
| Jill Andrews | IDEC | Kiddie Kollege/SIECAT (Southern Illinois Early Childhood Action Team) |
Employer in Southern Illinois | 10/31/2026 |
| Toni Porter | IDEC | INCCRRA | INCCRRA | 10/31/2026 |
| Lauri Morrison-Frichtl | IDEC | Illinois Head Start Association | Other Experts | 10/31/2026 |
| Michael Kim | IDEC | Illinois Action for Children | Statewide Advocate | 10/31/2026 |
| Erika Méndez | IDEC | Latino Policy Forum | Statewide Advocate | 10/31/2025 |
| Zachary Allen | IDHS | Illinois Department of Human Services | Co-Chair | 10/31/2027 |
| Martina Rocha | IDHS | Together for Network | Family Child Care Provider | 10/31/2025 |
| Emnet Gebrehiiwet Ward | IDHS | Eyes on the Future | For-Profit Child Care Provider | 10/31/2026 |
| Ashley Harms | IDHS | Amity Child Care Center | Non-Profit Child Care Provider | 10/31/2025 |
| Evelyn Osorio | IDHS | Service Employees International Union | Union Representing Child Care and Early Childhood Providers | 10/31/2026 |
| Joyce Gronewold | ISBE | Illinois State Board of Education | Co-Chair | 10/31/2027 |
| Amanda Christensen | ISBE | Regional Office of Education, DeKalb County, Regional Office of Education 16 |
Rural School District | 10/31/2026 |
| Susan Orozco | ISBE | East Aurora 131 | Suburban District | 10/31/2027 |
| Alicia Geddis | ISBE | Danville School District 118 | Urban District | 10/31/2027 |
| Leslie McKinily | ISBE | Chicago Public Schools 299 | Chicago Public Schools | 10/31/2026 |
| Vacant | Legislature | House Higher Education Committee | Minority Spokesperson, House Higher Education Committee | 10/31/2027 |
| Vacant | Legislature | Senate Higher Education Committee | Minority Spokesperson, Senate Higher Education Committee | 10/31/2025 |
| Vacant | Legislature | House Higher Education Committee | Chair/Vice-Chair, House Higher Education Committee | 10/31/2027 |
| Vacant | Legislature | Senate Higher Education Committee | Chair/Vice-Chair, House Higher Education Committee | 10/31/2027 |
For information about ECACE contact ecace-info@ecace.org