Early Childhood Access
Consortium for Equity

Consortium Member Roster

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Consortium Member and Representative List
as of November 13, 2023

ComsortiumMembers
Institution Type of Institution Voting Member Title
Black Hawk College Community College Amy Maxeiner Chief Academic Officer
Blackburn College Private Colleges & Universities Cindy Rice Professor, Chair of Education
Chicago State University Public University LaVada Taylor Dean, College of Education
College of DuPage Community College Jean Zaar Assistant Professor.
Early Childhood Ed & Care
College of Lake County Community College Diane Schael Instructor, Education
Danville Area Community College Community College Penny McConnell Assistant Vice President Academic Affairs
DePaul University Private Colleges & Universities Marie Donovan Associate Professor
Early Childhood Teacher Education
Eastern Illinois University

Dept of Teaching, Learning, & Foundations

Dept of Human Services
Public University Laretta Henderson Dean, College of Education
Elgin Community College Community College Peggy Heinrich Vice President of Teaching,
Learning, and Student Development
Governors State University Public University Shannon Dermer Dean, College of Education
Greenville University Private Colleges & Universities Laura Schaub Professor, School of Education
Harold Washington College Community College Theresa Carlton Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs
Harper College Community College Kathleen Nikolai Early Childhood Chair
Heartland College Community College Johnna Darragh-Ernst Professor, Early Childhood Education
Highland Community College Community College Melissa Johnson Early Childhood Education Instructor
Illinois Central College Community College Michelle Weghorst Dean of Business,
Legal and Informational Services
Illinois Eastern Community College Community College Robert Conn Dean of Instruction
Illinois State University Public University Linda Ruhe Marsh Director, ECE Online
Workforce Project
Illinois Valley Community College Community College Tammy Landgraf Early Childhood Education
Program Coordinator
Judson University Private Colleges & Universities Dr. Joy Towner Chair, Division of Education
John A Logan College Community College Stephanie Hartford Chief Academic Officer
John Wood Community College Community College April Darringer Early Childhood Instructor
Joliet Junior College Community College Melissa Szymczak Professor, Early Childhood Education
Kankakee Community College Community College Paul Carlson Dean of Business, Technology
and Human Services
Kaskaskia College Community College Traci Masau Dean of Career & Technical Education
Kennedy King College Community College Patricia Armstrong Vice President of Academic
and Student Affairs
Kishwaukee College Community College Judson Curry Dean, Office of Instruction
Lake Land College Community College Tanille Ulm Program Director for Early
Childhood Education
Lewis & Clark Community College Community College Randy Gallaher Dean of Liberal Arts, Business,
and Information Technology
Lewis University Private Colleges & Universities Rebecca Pruitt Program Director, Associate Professor,
Early Childhood Development,
College of Education
Lincoln Land Community College Community College Kalith Smith Dean, Social Sciences and Business
Malcom X College Community College Elizabeth Gmitter Interim Dean, Health
Science and Career Programs
McHenry County College Community College Dawn Katz Dean, Social Sciences &
Public Services
Moraine Valley Community College Community College Ryen Nagle Chief Academic Officer
Morton College Community College Michael Rose Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives,
Adult Education & CTE
National Louis University Private Colleges & Universities Lisa Downey Associate Dean
Northeastern Illinois University Public University Tom Philion Dean, College of Education
Northern Illinois University

College of Education

College of Health & Human Sciences
Public University Laurie Elish-Piper Dean, College of Education
Oakton Community College Community College Marc Battista Associate Vice President of Workforce
Education/Dean of Business &
Career Technologies
Olive Harvey College Community College Brandon Nichols Chief Academic Officer
Olivet Nazarene University Private Colleges & Universities Lance Kilpatrick Chair, Department of Education
Parkland College Community College Nancy Sutton Chief Academic Officer
Prairie State College Community College Elighie Wilson Vice President of Academic Affairs
Rend Lake College Community College Kim Wilkerson Associate Vice President of Career
and Technical Education
and Student Support
Richard Daley College Community College Patricia Aumann Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives
Richland Community College Community College Megan Broderick Dean, Liberal Arts
Rock Valley College Community College Amanda Smith Vice President
Rockford University Private Colleges & Universities Kimberlee Wagner Associate Professor of Education
Roosevelt University Private Colleges & Universities Jin-ah Kim Chair of Teacher Preparation Department
Sauk Valley Community College Community College Jon Mandrell Chief Academic Officer
South Suburban College Community College Anna Helwig Assistant Dean School of Education,
Health and Human Behavior
Southern Illinois University Carbondale Public University Stacy Thompson Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies & Curriculum
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville Public University Natasha Flowers Assistant Dean School of Education,
Health and Human Behavior
Spoon River College Community College Robert Kensinger Director of Early Childhood Education
Southwestern Illinois College Community College Carolyn Beal Early Childhood Education
Coordinator
St. Augustine College Private Colleges & Universities Shekeita Webb Program Director,
Early Childhood Program
Triton College Community College Susan Campos Chief Academic Officer
Truman College Community College Kate Connor Chief Academic Officer
University of Illinois Chicago Public University Kathryn Bouchard Chval Dean, College of Education
University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign Public University Anne Pradzinski Director, Early Childhood Professional
Education Program
Waubonsee Community College Community College Sharon Garcia Executive Dean for
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Western Illinois University Public University Eric Sheffield Director, School of Education

For information about ECACE contact ecace-info@ecace.org