With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
Christopher Graves is the principal at Jordan Elementary and was previously the principal of LaSalle Language Academy, a K-8th-grade magnet lottery school in Chicago Public Schools. After seeing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his entire community, Graves adapted his leadership style to be responsive to the needs of teachers and staff who are fatigued from constant pivoting.
Sarah Elizabeth Ippel is the founder and executive director of the Academy for Global Citizenship, a Chicago Public Elementary School on a global mission that serves 96% minority children and families. AGC is developing the next generation of critical thinkers and mindful leaders to positively impact their communities and the world beyond.
A proud native of Chicago’s South Side, Adrienne Irmer has been a passionate champion of social causes for over 16 years. Her professional work has crossed all sectors, including electoral campaign work at all levels of government. Irmer previously served on the legislative staff of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and with the Cook County Bureau of Asset Management.
Tim Jones is an 11-year veteran of organizational leadership, community outreach, and project management, with extensive experience leading nonprofit enterprises. Jones’ tenure at Willow Chicago, a multicultural church in downtown Chicago, consisted of roles in project management, program management, budget process, volunteer/database management, and fundraising.
Julia Lane develops and executes growth strategies across the University of Chicago’s science, engineering, and innovation landscape. This includes developing new institutes, building global and domestic partnerships, and working with stakeholders to translate discoveries into impact. She works across sectors including quantum engineering, artificial intelligence, and energy technologies.
In her previous role, Absera Melaku provided overall direction for the University of Chicago's Center for Global Health by managing its long-term strategy, developing numerous educational programs, and overseeing the operational infrastructure. She developed collaborative relationships to further the mission to broaden global health education, training, research, advocacy, and engagement.
Outside of the US, Tanya Menon has taught in France, India, Singapore, Italy, and Spain. She has won multiple teaching awards and has incorporated her nonprofit consulting experience into her classes. Additionally, Menon is the associate editor of the Journal of Management Science and was an American Marshall Memorial Fellow.
Before her time at UI Health, Yamilé Molina was an associate professor with affiliations to the School of Public Health, Center for Research on Women and Gender, and Cancer Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She's led multiple studies characterizing and intervening upon the disproportionate burden of cancer that Latinx, African Americans, and rural populations face.
Yasmeen Muhammad has passionately served Chicago Public Schools for over 17 years. She works to cultivate inclusive learning environments where students are empowered to embrace their identities and express themselves critically, artistically, and emotionally. Her firm belief is that we must use our positionality to lift our communities to impact every child in every neighborhood.
Luis Narváez, born and raised in Mexico City, is the former director of strategic projects for Chicago Public Schools' Office of Language and Cultural Education. He worked to support the city's 70,000+ English language learners and focuses on expanding postsecondary access for Chicago’s immigrant and Latino communities.
