Illinois Higher Education Equity Symposium

Derek Hoiem is a Professor in the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he is active in AI teaching, research, entrepreneurship, and administration. Most recently, he has been leading efforts to develop a comprehensive plan for AI education and to enable AI readiness across the state, with roles including Associate Director for AI Strategy and Programs in the Siebel School, Grainger Dean's Fellow for AI Education, and chair/co-chair of the AI curriculum task forces for The Grainger College of Engineering and the Urbana-Champaign campus. An IEEE Fellow, his research investigates how to create systems that continue to improve and are physically intelligent; awards include a Sloan Research Fellowship, the IEEE PAMI Young Researcher Award, and best paper awards. Prof. Hoiem is also co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Reconstruct, which provides construction stakeholders with an AI-based Visual Command Center for timely access to project information.

Dr. Kamau Bobb is the founding Senior Director of the Constellations Center for Education in Computing at Georgia Tech. An engineer and science and technology policy scholar, his work focuses on STEM education, large educational systems, technology, and the structural conditions that shape contemporary American life.

Prior to his leadership at Georgia Tech, Dr. Bobb served as Director of STEM Education Strategy and Research at Google and as a Program Officer at the National Science Foundation within the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering. During his federal service, he served on President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) STEM Taskforce. He previously directed the STEM Initiative for the University System of Georgia.

Dr. Bobb earned a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Policy from Georgia Tech, as well as M.S. and B.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. His career reflects a longstanding commitment to expanding access to computing and STEM education and examining how technology can contribute to greater educational opportunity and equity.

Dr. Bobb is also the author of The Bullwhip’s Algorithm: Artificial Intelligence and America’s Racial Caste System, forthcoming from Beacon Press on October 20, 2026. The book examines the intersection of artificial intelligence, education, race, technology, and equity, asking critical questions about how AI may reshape American education and whether emerging technologies can truly advance educational opportunity.

Through his scholarship, leadership, and public engagement, Dr. Bobb brings an important perspective to conversations about the future of computing, education, artificial intelligence, and equity.

Sarah Lewis, Ph.D.

Sarah Lewis is the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Humanities and Associate Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University. She is the founder of Vision & Justice, a leading publishing and research initiative that serves as a key organizer, partner, and resource for artists, scholars, and leaders seeking to examine the foundational role of visual culture in America’s representational democracy. Lewis is also known for her landmark work on creativity and the gift of failure for innovation.
She has authored and edited over 60 publications including the award-winning book, The Unseen Truth: When Race Changed Sight in America (Harvard University Press, 2024); the bestseller, The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery (Simon & Schuster, 2014); and the award-winning volumes Carrie Mae Weems (MIT Press, 2021) and “Vision & Justice” (Aperture, 2016), taught widely in universities in the United States and abroad and made required reading for incoming first-year students at New York University Tisch School of the Arts.
A frequent speaker at universities and conferences, her mainstage TED talk, Embrace the Near Win, has received 3.1 million views. She has delivered keynotes, talks and commencement addresses for many universities and organizations. As founder of Vision & Justice, Lewis has organized landmark convenings and founded a Vision & Justice Book Series, launched in partnership with Aperture. Her writing has been published in the New Yorker, The New York Times, Artforum, and the New York Review of Books, and her work has been the subject of profiles from Vogue to The Boston Globe to The New York Times.
Lewis’s awards and recognition include the American Book Award (2025) for The Unseen Truth, the Walter Channing Cabot Fellowship at Harvard University (2025), the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship (2022), the Arthur Danto/ASA Prize from the American Philosophical Association (2022), the Freedom Scholar Award from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (2019), and the Infinity Award for Critical Writing and Research from the International Center of Photography (2017). She has received an honorary degree from Pratt Institute (2024) and was also asked to deliver the commencement address for Pratt Institute that year at Radio City Music Hall, following other commencement addresses for Capella University (2021) and Yale University School of Art (2019).
Before joining the faculty at Harvard, Lewis held curatorial positions at The Museum of Modern Art, New York and the Tate Modern, London. She also served as a Critic at Yale University School of Art. Lewis currently serves on the boards of Thames & Hudson Inc., Creative Time, and Civil War History journal and served on the Yale Corporation Committee on Honorary Degrees. Her research has received grants ranging from the Ford Foundation to the Whiting Foundation, and the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library.
Lewis received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, an M. Phil from Oxford University, an M.A. from Courtauld Institute of Art, and her Ph.D. from Yale University. She lives in Cambridge, MA.

Having worked in higher education for over 25 years, Dr. Dan Mahony has served in roles from professor to president. He is a respected, consultative leader who has demonstrated the ability to bring a community together around shared goals which is why he was chosen to be the 10th President of Southern Illinois University beginning in March 2020.

Originally from Clinton, New Jersey, Dr. Mahony earned a B.S. in accounting from Virginia Tech, an M.S. in sport management from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in sport management from Ohio State University. He and his wife Laura have two children, Gavin and Elena.

Before his academic career, Dr. Mahony worked in both public accounting and intercollegiate athletics. He is an active researcher in the areas of sport consumer behavior and intercollegiate athletics.

Dr. Mahony has received many awards for his work. Most recently, he was the 2020 recipient of the Charles Whitcomb Service Award given by the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) which recognizes individuals who foster diversity and inclusion within the intercollegiate athletics community. 

Dr. Terrance Jordan is a lifelong educator with nearly 23 years of service in Springfield Public Schools District 186. A native of Lexington, Mississippi, he is a graduate of Jacob J. McClain High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi Valley State University.
Dr. Jordan began his career in District 186 as a kindergarten teaching assistant, an experience that ignited his passion for education and student success. He later served as a library media specialist and parent educator before earning his elementary teaching certificate from the University of Illinois at Springfield. Dr. Jordan has taught first and third grade, where his instructional excellence earned him the Horace Mann Rising Star Teaching Award.
Motivated to broaden his impact, Dr. Jordan earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a post-master’s certificate in Educational Law. He served as guidance dean at Washington Middle School before being appointed principal of Black Hawk Elementary School, where he served for seven years. As principal, he focused on fostering a family-centered school culture, expanding mentoring opportunities, and strengthening community partnerships. His leadership was recognized with the Springfield Public Schools District 186 Administrator of the Year award and the Illinois State Board of Education Award of Excellence.
Dr. Jordan has held several district-level leadership roles, including Director of School Leadership and Family and Community Engagement. He currently serves as Assistant Superintendent of Family, Community, and School Leadership. He holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Dr. Jordan is deeply engaged in the Springfield community. He has served as a youth coach and board member for numerous civic and nonprofit organizations, including the Springfield YMCA, Springfield Art Association, Memorial Behavioral Health, United Way of Central Illinois, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Sangamon CEO, and Springfield Ball Charter School. He is a graduate of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Springfield program and serves on the Heartland Continuum of Care Youth Homelessness Task Group, the Community Health Roundtable, and the Faith Coalition for the Common Good Education Task Force. He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Dr. Jordan’s recognitions include the Springfield Business Journal 40 Under 40, the MacArthur Boulevard Association Excellence in Education Award, University of Illinois Springfield Good as Gold Volunteer Award finalist, Parent Place Champion for Children Award, Springfield Art Association Outstanding Community Arts Advocate, and the Springfield Lincoln Library Dedication and Excellence in Community Contributions Award.
Dr. Jordan is the husband of Ashley Jenkins-Jordan and the father of Markayla Jordan. Guided by a leadership philosophy rooted in kindness, integrity, and service, he remains committed to ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education, meaningful relationships, and the support needed to succeed.

Dr. Curt Oldfield is President of Lincoln Land Community College, bringing nearly 14 years of experience as President of Spoon River College and more than two decades of leadership in Illinois community colleges. Throughout his career, Dr. Oldfield has demonstrated a strong commitment to student success, workforce development, community engagement, and regional economic development.

Under his leadership at Spoon River College, Dr. Oldfield focused on increasing student retention, expanding workforce development opportunities, and building strategic partnerships that strengthened the college’s connection to the communities it serves. His career reflects a deep belief in the transformative role of community colleges in creating educational and economic opportunity.

Dr. Oldfield began his career in education as an agriculture teacher at Roseville High School, where he also advised the FFA chapter and coached football and basketball. He later joined Spoon River College as a full-time agriculture faculty member and advanced to dean of instruction. He subsequently served as Vice President of Instruction at Northeast Iowa Community College before returning to Spoon River College as President.

Dr. Oldfield is a fellow of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and has served on the Commission on Student Success for the American Association of Community Colleges. His leadership and advocacy have been recognized with the Illinois Community College Trustees Association Advocacy Award. He was also named a Top 10 finalist in the Aspen Institute’s Community College Excellence Program and previously served as chair of the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents.

Dr. Oldfield earned his doctoral degree from Ferris State University, a master’s degree from the University of Illinois, and a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University. His educational journey began at Spoon River College, where he earned his associate degree.

As President of Lincoln Land Community College, Dr. Oldfield brings extensive community college leadership experience and a longstanding commitment to ensuring students have access to high-quality education, career opportunities, and the resources needed to succeed.

Mandy C. Eaton, PhD, became president and chief executive officer of Memorial Health on April 1, 2025. In this role, she provides leadership for the strategic direction of the Springfield-based health system, which delivers comprehensive health services to the central Illinois region. Dr. Eaton is committed to focusing on delivering high-quality patient care, advancing health equity, and driving innovation to improve the patient and caregiver experience.

Dr. Eaton previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Cone Health, a non-profit healthcare organization that includes five hospitals and numerous outpatient locations serving a five-county area in North Carolina. Before assuming that role, she was the organization’s executive vice president for people and culture, and she also held other human resources roles.

She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in public health and a Master of Science degree in healthcare administration, before earning a doctorate degree in leadership studies from North Carolina A&T State University.

Dr. Eaton is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration. She holds Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) certification, is a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional and is a Certified Leadership Coach – Coaching Academy International.

A resident of Springfield, Dr. Eaton serves on the boards of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association and Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance.

Jennifer K. Foster is the Deputy Executive Director for the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and oversees all programs including, Workforce, Adult Education, High School Equivalency (HSE) postsecondary Perkins/Career Technical Education (CTE), Academic and Student Support Service, and Strategic Initiatives. She is the past State Director for Adult Education and currently serves as the state administrator for the State of Illinois High School Diploma program. Jennifer is also the agency’s EEO Officer, and as the Chief Diversity Officer leads the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. Jennifer oversees the agency grant efforts including the Lumina Foundation– Employment Connection Project, and the ICCB Workforce Empowerment Initiative. Jennifer has been with the ICCB for over 25 years and has worked with WIOA Title II of adult education for approximately 36 years. Over the past few years, Jennifer has served as the past chair of the National Association of State Directors of Adult Education (NASDAE), liaison on federal and national projects related, team lead for the Illinois Accelerating Opportunity Project, and she currently serves on both the Illinois State Workforce Board and the Cook County Workforce Partnership Board.

Dr. Valerie A. Lynch is Senior Managing Director at the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), where she provides leadership for statewide initiatives focused on academic quality, student success, equity, workforce development, and institutional improvement. Her portfolio includes academic program approval, oversight of private and out-of-state institutions, educator and workforce initiatives, and programs designed to improve access, persistence, and completion across Illinois higher education. She also co-leads implementation of the SUCCESS initiative, the state’s implementation plan for institutional equity initiatives.

Dr. Lynch has more than 25 years of experience spanning elementary, special, and higher education. Before joining IBHE, she served as Vice President for Student Services at Lake Land College, where she provided executive leadership for enrollment management, student development, academic support, retention, completion, transfer, and student well-being. Her earlier roles included Director of Student Life, Student Success faculty member, and advisor for the federal TRIO Talent Search program.

Dr. Lynch earned an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Maryville University, an M.S. in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Indiana State University, and a B.S. in Elementary Education with certification in Special Education from Eastern Illinois University. Her doctoral research examined strategic enrollment management through the Guided Pathways model. She has served nationally as a commissioner for small and rural colleges with the American Association of Community Colleges. Most recently, she was named co-chair of the Adult Learner Committee of the Illinois P-20 Council. As both a first-generation college student and a former student parent, Dr. Lynch brings personal experience to her longstanding commitment to strengthening educational pathways and improving outcomes for first-generation students, students with limited incomes, student parents, and other historically underserved populations.

Dr. Aaron Kuecker is the Chief Executive Officer of Hope Chicago, an economic mobility initiative that removes barriers to postsecondary success for two generations of South and West Side Chicago families.

He previously served as president of Trinity Christian College. Under his leadership, Trinity advanced bold institutional transformation focused on increasing affordability, access, and student belonging. Over more than two decades in higher education, Dr. Kuecker has served as a professor, academic dean, provost, and president, with a leadership style shaped by his earlier experience as a youth and associate pastor. He is a recognized thought leader in reimagining higher education economics, a Locke Innovative Leader Awardee from Wesleyan Impact Partners, a frequent national presenter on community economic development, and a convener of influential conversations in collaboration with the Aspen Institute’s Financial Security Program.

His work has often centered on building partnerships between institutions and local communities to address systemic challenges, from student loan debt to equitable workforce development, in ways that create mutual benefit for students, neighborhoods,and employers.

Dr. Kuecker holds a Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, a master’s degree from Western Theological Seminary, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Central College in Iowa. His academic work has examined how communities build identity and foster collaboration across differences. This focus on connection and opportunity continues to guide his approach to expanding access to education and economic mobility through Hope Chicago.

Dr. Norrell has served as Superintendent for Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District since 2025. Over the past year, she has significantly increased enrollment in early college coursework and established 20 Career Pathways. Previously Jennifer served for 7 years as superintendent for East Aurora School District- 12th largest school district in Illinois. In that role she was credited nationally for Pre-K– 12th grade equity-focused work in removing barriers to student success.

Throughout her 30 years in education, Norrell has served Pre-K–12th grades and as university faculty. She has consulted, supporting school improvement in Atlanta Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, Dallas Independent School District and Indianapolis Public Schools. She has presented at national conferences including; American Educational Research Association (AERA), American Association for School Administrators (AASA), College Board Forum, Colloquium and National Association of Financial Aid Administrators (NAFSA).

In 2025, Dr. Norrell was honored by EdWeek as a Leader to Learn From. In April 2024, the NAACP honored her with the Transformative Leader in Education Award and in 2021 named a Chicago Defender Women of Excellence.
Dr. Norrell was elected nationally and currently serves as a Trustee for the College Board for a four-year term. She also serves as a newly appointed Trustee for Saint Xavier University.

Jennifer earned a B.S. in Biology from Hampton University ‘96, a M.A. Ed. from Saint Xavier University ‘00, and Ed.D. from Loyola University Chicago ‘05.

Wendi Wills El-Amin, M.D. is the Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. She is a Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine where she provides care at the Center for Family Medicine in Springfield. Dr. El-Amin is dually appointed to the SIU’s Department of Medical Education where she serves as an academic strategist.

El-Amin served as an Assistant Dean of Medical Education at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville (2007-10). She also served as director of outreach at the Center on Health Disparities and Director of the UVA Cancer Center Health Disparity Initiative (2006-10) and as an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and public health (2005-10), all at the University of Virginia. El-Amin was in private practice at Wills Diagnostic Clinic in Houston, TX. (2001-03).

She completed her residency in family practice and community medicine as chief resident at the University of Texas-Houston (2001). She earned her medical degree at Georgetown Medical School (1998) and a bachelor’s degree in biology at Hampton University in Virginia (1993).

El-Amin is board certified in family medicine and is a member of the National Medical Association, where she chaired the Women’s Health Section (2008 – 2019). She has been a community health advocate and activist. She is the proud mother of three daughters Samira, Arianna, and Yasmin, who she affectionately calls her earth, wind, and fire.

She is presently a board member of the Community Foundation of the Land of Lincoln. Springfield YMCA, and Springfield Memorial Hospital and Foundation. She is the recipient of the 2023 SIUSOM Leonard Tow Humanism award, 2023 Athena Award, the J. Dorsey Teaching Award in 2022, Springfield chapter of N.A.A.C.P. Webster award, and was named one of the 2022 Women of Influence from the Springfield Business Journal.

She has a passion for addressing health disparities and inequities in healthcare.

Serial entrepreneur, inventor, perpetual problem solver, and accomplished marketing executive Raquel Graham has an unwavering commitment to helping people make their lives better. This passion has inspired her inventions, propelled her award-winning entrepreneurial journey, and fueled her resilience and tenacity in the face of adversity.

A highly sought-after marketing strategist, Raquel founded ROQ Marketing Group to deliver marketing solutions to corporations seeking to elevate and expand their brands. For over 17 years, she led strategy, media production, and content management solutions for editorial, consumer, and philanthropic clients such as international brands McDonald's and Honey Can Do.

Raquel played a pivotal role in expanding the reach of the iconic Ebony magazine, where she served as vice president and national marketing director for seven years. In this role, she established strategic partnerships with multinational corporations including the National Football League, Anheuser-Busch, Procter & Gamble, Chrysler, and Clorox, which boosted advertising revenues.

After helping corporations elevate their brands for more than 25 years, Raquel established her own product development company, ROQ Innovation. Inspired by her own life journey, Raquel creates custom-made products that solve everyday problems, making people’s lives easier and more fulfilling. Two of Raquel’s innovations, NEKZ® (a scarf alternative) and HEADLIGHTZ™ (a rechargeable beanie that provides hands-free LED lighting for outdoor activities) sold out during her appearances on HSN (Home Shopping Network). She now has multiple products on the network, fulfilling her dream to “invent products that sell on a TV shopping channel and make money while she sleeps”. Raquel has been featured multiple times on ABC’s The View, Good Morning America, in Forbes and Entrepreneur magazine, and five consecutive years on Oprah’s Favorite Things List. She recently appeared in Shark Tank (receiving an investment from two sharks) and gave a TEDx talk at her alma mater Wesleyan University on “The Business of Resilience”.

A well-respected businesswoman, Raquel has been recognized not only for her astute business acumen, but her desire to help underrepresented entrepreneurs succeed as well. She received the 2022 Minority Supplier of the Year award from the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council. Through a partnership with Girls Inc. of Chicago, she mentors young girls and teaches them about product development and entrepreneurship. She is also a founding board member of the Women in Entrepreneurship Institute at DePaul University.

Born and raised in Brooklyn by immigrant parents, Raquel celebrates her Jamaican and Chinese roots. She earned an Executive MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in economics from Wesleyan University. Raquel is a proud mom of two children who fuel her creativity and innovation, inspire her work ethic, and bring her life’s greatest joy.

Carol Samarah, JD, CCEP, is the inaugural NAGPRA Program Director for the Southern Illinois University (SIU) System. She leads NAGPRA implementation and compliance across all SIU campuses. In this role, she works to build collaborative and enduring relationships between the university and descendant communities.

Dr. Tamara Roust is a cybersecurity and AI risk leader and the Founder and CEO of FAIT Consulting, a woman-owned firm in La Grange, Illinois, that helps organizations adopt AI securely. At the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, she authored the federal system safeguards rules for derivatives clearing organizations, grounded in NIST SP 800-53, and led joint Federal Reserve, SEC, and CFTC teams examining the cybersecurity and technology controls of systemically important firms, including the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Intercontinental Exchange. She later became the CFTC's first Chief Data Officer and led a security-by-design cloud migration saving more than $25 million a year. As Head of AI at the U.S. Treasury's Office of Financial Research, she built ChatOFR, a secure generative AI platform. Her recent work includes "AI Security and Governance for Stablecoin Issuers," co-authored with Brian Peretti for Loyola's AI Edge, and a companion comment letter to the FDIC. FAIT also helps Illinois defense suppliers prepare for CMMC certification. Dr. Roust holds a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University in Information Systems and Technology and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Quentella Enty is a recognized leader in technology, supplier development, strategic procurement, and organizational development, known for her ability to help organizations solve complex challenges and achieve measurable results. She brings more than two decades of experience guiding companies through innovation, operational transformation, and global expansion. Her intelligence, strategic clarity, and ability to translate advanced technologies into practical business solutions have made her a trusted partner to high-growth firms and established enterprises alike. Quentella holds an MBA from Benedictine University, where she earned the Light of Benedictine honor and studied Organizational Change Management under Dr. Peter Sorenson. She is also a Harvard Business School alum and a Co-Protagonist in the HBS case study KFA: Building the Future. Her expertise has been showcased in more than seven Harvard Business School lectures alongside faculty Linda Applegate, AI global leader Dr. Elizabeth Adams, and Co-Protagonist, Technology Innovator, and Computer Scientist Greg Bush, Jr. As the Founder and Chief Strategic Partner of Callie Management Group (CMG), Quentella leads a firm known for helping clients adopt advanced technologies, streamline operations, and strengthen performance. Her strategic approach consistently positions clients to operate more efficiently, scale faster, and deliver stronger value to their customers. Prior to CMG, she simultaneously served as President of Callie Management Group and Greg Bush Enterprise (PHAZE) while also serving as Vice President at Bush Infotech Group (B.I.G.). Her leadership contributed to B.I.G. earning the Inner City 100 Award five times in seven years, securing her distinction as an ICIC Hall of Famer. Quentella’s expertise is reinforced by Executive Business Certifications from Duke University and Northwestern University Kellogg, along with credentials in Ariba Procurement, USGBC LEED, and PV Solar training. Her technical and operational knowledge allows her to advise clients with precision, whether they are modernizing procurement systems, integrating new technologies, or navigating organizational change. Her global perspective is shaped by serving as a U.S. Trade Delegate under multiple Republican and Democratic US Presidents to 5 African Countries, the Caribbean, and nearly a dozen onshore-Euro-Asian Countries where she supported international partnerships and cross-border business development in technology, infrastructure, and smart-city initiatives. Quentella has been honored by more than 50 St. Louis Aldermen for her service in business, recognized by the MBDA, Served on Procurement Committees for 3 Chicago Mayors and celebrated as a Metra Rail Supplier Champion. She also serves on multiple boards supporting youth S.T.E.A.M., mental health initiatives, college readiness, entrepreneurship, and scholarship. Her mentorship of women and girls earned her the Quad County Urban League Women of Power Award. Clients seek out Quentella for her strategic intelligence, her ability to simplify complexity, and her proven record of helping organizations and individuals grow, innovate, and compete at a higher level toward profitability.