Our Black Women of First Distinction 2021
Black Women of First Distinction 2021
US Rep. Robin Kelly, PhD Class of 2021
First Black Woman to Lead Illinois’ Democratic Party
Congresswoman Robin Kelly serves as a U.S. Representative from Illinois’s 2nd Congressional District and has dedicated her career to public service as an advocated for Illinois families. Since being elected in 2013, she has worked to expand economic opportunity, community wellness, and public safety across the state, championing numerous initiatives to generate job growth, reduce health disparities, and end gun violence.
A staunch champion of common-sense gun reforms and responsible community policing, Representative Kelly is Co-Chair of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce. Committed to improving the health and wellness of vulnerable communities across the country, the Congresswoman serves as the Vice Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, Co-Chairs the Congressional Caucus of Black Women and Girls.
She also Co-Chairs the House Democratic Policy Group and House Tech Accountability Caucus. Congresswoman Kelly is a Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, serves on the Health, Energy, and Consumer Protection and Commerce Additionally, she is a Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and serves on the national security and civil rights and civil liberties.
Lieutenant Governor Juliana StrattonClass of 2021
First Black Woman Lieutenant Governor for State of Illinois
Juliana Stratton serves as Lieutenant Governor of the State of Illinois. In this role she leads the Justice, Equity and Opportunity Initiative, chairs the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, the Military Economic Development Council, and the Illinois River Coordinating Council.
Lieutenant Governor Stratton currently serves on the Executive Committee of the National Lieutenant Governors Association as the Treasurer. Previously, Lieutenant Governor served as Representative of 5th District in the Illinois House of Representatives.
Lieutenant Governor Stratton’s entire career has focused on bringing people together, building consensus, and solving problems She served as Director of the Center for Public Safety and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Executive Director of the Cook County Justice Advisory Council, and as a Deputy Hearing Commissioner for the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection.
As a lifelong advocate for youth and creating safe spaces for your young people, Lieutenant Governor Stratton is a restorative justice practitioner and trained peace circle keeper. She was also a founding board member of the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center and served on the Board of Director of the Juvenile Protective Association. She graduated for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and DePaul University College of Law. Born and raised on the southside of Chicago, Lieutenant Governor Stratton and her husband, Bryan, live in Bronzeville and have four daughters.
Source https://www2.illinois.gov
Dr. Cheryl Green, PhDClass of 2021
First Black Woman President of Governors State University
Dr. Cheryl Green is the President of Governors State University with more than 30 years of professional experience in higher education. A passionate educator and administrator, Cheryl believes fiercely in the power of education to change lives.
Throughout her career, she has pioneered the innovation academic enrichment opportunities and student success initiative that promote increased retention and graduation rates for first generation and non-traditional college students. Cheryl has served as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Interim Chancellor for the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, and as Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs at Tennessee State University.
Cheryl’s community service work spanned the United States and has included serving on ten different advisory boards or board of directors. Recently, she has been active on the Howard Hughes Medical Institute STEM Grant Advisory Board of UW Madison, Manchester University Board of Trustee, the Forward 50 Advisory Board for the National Association of Student and Financial Aid Administrators and the Milwaukee based Gift of Adoption Wisconsin Board of Directors.
Cheryle received her B.A. degree in psychology for Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana and received both M.A. and PhD. degrees from Southern University in Carbondale, Illinois. She was born in Chicago, Illinois and is the loving mother of two adult children who constantly keep her inspired to believe in the worth and potential of all human being and to make a difference in the world.
Source: https://www.govst.edu/
