Our Vision

We can create an inclusive, thriving tech ecosystem in Chicago with City Colleges students at the center.

Chicagoans from disenfranchised communities need access to opportunities and long-term investment to ensure they can thrive. Local employers have an urgent need for more tech talent—and support to ensure their growth is inclusive.

City Colleges of Chicago is already a gateway to higher education for many Chicagoans, especially residents from underserved communities. With our new and refreshed tech programs—designed with industry partners to meet tech sector needs—City Colleges is well positioned to reduce the tech education gap and help diversify the field.

Our partners in this work include leading technology experts from the field, faculty with deep tech experience, and a dedicated team of staff at City Colleges.

Technology Advisory Council

The members of the Technology Advisory Council come from across the city and share City Colleges’ vision of an inclusive, thriving tech ecosystem in Chicago. The council members also have the expertise and professional network reflective of the city’s diverse tech sectors. 

The council’s mission is to help steer the range of comprehensive tech programs, opportunities, and support available to students across all City Colleges locations.  

Council members are asked to: 

  • Provide real-time feedback on labor market analysis, including demand, workforce trends, and skill requirements in the tech sector 
  • Advise on strategies for student engagement and success 
  • Suggest educational resources and opportunities for students, both inside and outside the classroom 
  • Enhance the visibility of City Colleges’ tech initiatives 
  • Foster connections with tech industry leaders and decision-makers 
  • Identify additional experts for subcommittees
  • Jeremiah Abiade
    Founding Director, DuSable Scholars Program, University of Illinois Chicago 
  • Aleena Agrawal
    Vice President of Talent Solutions, P33 
  • Randy Armknecht
    Managing Director of Enterprise Cloud & Global Delivery, Protiviti 
  • Kemal Badur
    Assistant Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, University of Chicago 
  • Wendy Brors
    AIR Tech Apprenticeships Consultant, American Institutes for Research 
  • Morgan Collier
    Founder and Impact Officer, Morgan Elaine 
  • Emily Cooper
    Vice President of Programs, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce 
  • Maurice Dawson
    Cyber Security Center Director, Illinois Tech 
  • Trenton Dunn
    Director of ThinkChicago, World Business Chicago 
  • Emily Emmerman
    Director of Special Projects, Comer Family Foundation/Xchange 
  • Shawn Farrar
    AVP, Business Relationship Management and Innovation, CNA 
  • Tana Francellno
    Director of Workforce Development, World Business Chicago 
  • Adrienne Gibbs
    Editor and Writer, Advanced Systems Group 
  • Jessica Holberg
    Tech Education Outreach and Partnerships Lead, Google
  • Laticia Holbert
    Workforce Development Manager, ComEd 
  • Jon Kimmel
    Director of Business Services, National Able 
  • Chris Lemmon
    Cyber Security Engineer, Security YETI 
  • Nick Lucius
    Chief Information Officer, City of Chicago, DTI 
  • Milan McGraw
    AI/ML Generative AI Lead, Amazon Web Services 
  • Quincy Mingo
    Mid-Market Account Director, LinkedIn 
  • Kay Monelle
    Associate Director of High School Programming, Discovery Partners Institute 
  • Sandeep Nain
    President and CEO, SNtial Technologies, Inc. 
  • Megan Nakano
    Executive Director, Asian American Chamber of Commerce 
  • Oluseyi Olaleye
    Program Coordinator, XChange 
  • Sonia Pulido
    Assistant Director of Post-Secondary Education, Discovery Partners Institute 
  • Nisaini Rexach
    Community Engagement Lead, Microsoft 
  • Elizabeth Rot
    Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Business Partner, CNA 
  • Rich Stone
    Senior Vice President, IT and Business Strategy Consultant, Northern Trust 
  • Daryl Thompson
    Security Manager Infrastructure Services, Capgemini 
  • Scott Tillman
    Associate Director of Pre-College Access, Illinois Tech 
  • Sarah Tinsman
    Program Director for Inclusive Innovation, University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement 
  • April Welch
    Associate Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Illinois Tech 
  • Alish Wenc
    Associate Director, Center for Cyber Safety & Education  
  • Troy Williams
    Director of Institutional Partnerships, Anita B. 
  • Jeremiah Abiade
    Founding Director, DuSable Scholars Program, University of Illinois Chicago 
  • Aleena Agrawal
    Vice President of Talent Solutions, P33 
  • Randy Armknecht
    Managing Director of Enterprise Cloud & Global Delivery, Protiviti 
  • Kemal Badur
    Assistant Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, University of Chicago 
  • Wendy Brors
    AIR Tech Apprenticeships Consultant, American Institutes for Research 
  • Morgan Collier
    Founder and Impact Officer, Morgan Elaine 
  • Emily Cooper
    Vice President of Programs, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce 
  • Maurice Dawson
    Cyber Security Center Director, Illinois Tech 
  • Trenton Dunn
    Director of ThinkChicago, World Business Chicago 
  • Emily Emmerman
    Director of Special Projects, Comer Family Foundation/Xchange 
  • Shawn Farrar
    AVP, Business Relationship Management and Innovation, CNA 
  • Tana Francellno
    Director of Workforce Development, World Business Chicago 
  • Adrienne Gibbs
    Editor and Writer, Advanced Systems Group 
  • Jessica Holberg
    Tech Education Outreach and Partnerships Lead, Google
  • Laticia Holbert
    Workforce Development Manager, ComEd 
  • Jon Kimmel
    Director of Business Services, National Able 
  • Chris Lemmon
    Cyber Security Engineer, Security YETI 
  • Nick Lucius
    Chief Information Officer, City of Chicago, DTI 
  • Milan McGraw
    AI/ML Generative AI Lead, Amazon Web Services 
  • Quincy Mingo
    Mid-Market Account Director, LinkedIn 
  • Kay Monelle
    Associate Director of High School Programming, Discovery Partners Institute 
  • Sandeep Nain
    President and CEO, SNtial Technologies, Inc. 
  • Megan Nakano
    Executive Director, Asian American Chamber of Commerce 
  • Oluseyi Olaleye
    Program Coordinator, XChange 
  • Sonia Pulido
    Assistant Director of Post-Secondary Education, Discovery Partners Institute 
  • Nisaini Rexach
    Community Engagement Lead, Microsoft 
  • Elizabeth Rot
    Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Business Partner, CNA 
  • Rich Stone
    Senior Vice President, IT and Business Strategy Consultant, Northern Trust 
  • Daryl Thompson
    Security Manager Infrastructure Services, Capgemini 
  • Scott Tillman
    Associate Director of Pre-College Access, Illinois Tech 
  • Sarah Tinsman
    Program Director for Inclusive Innovation, University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement 
  • April Welch
    Associate Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Illinois Tech 
  • Alish Wenc
    Associate Director, Center for Cyber Safety & Education  
  • Troy Williams
    Director of Institutional Partnerships, Anita B. 

Technology Taskforce

The Technology Task Force at City Colleges was created to empower our faculty with the resources to lead exceptional academic programs and to foster ongoing engagement with industry experts. The task force members help guide our instructional strategies and also share information from their college or department with the larger task force.

  • Blanca Acevedo
    Director of Grants Administration
  • Gustavo Alatta
    Full-time Professor, Wright College
  • Laurie Alfaro
    Associate Professor & Educator, Elated Media Group
  • Vincent Alvarez
    Director of Apprenticeship/Work-Based Learning Programs
  • Melissa Damewood
    Dean, Academic and CTE Programs, Dean of Instruction, Kennedy-King College
  • Carolyn Daigre Duroseau
    Adjunct Lecturer
  • Stacia Edwards
    Deputy Provost
  • Jenny Flores
    Tech Advisor (PRI)
  • Fredricka Holloway
    Organizational Leader
  • Lateef Idris
    Project Coordinator, Kennedy-King College
  • Elisa Jaurez-Lopez
    Student Development Coordinator
  • Monica Merriweather
    Educator & Advisor
  • Jenetta O’neal
    Director of Workforce Partnerships, Wright College
  • Connie Rutledge
    Director of Workforce Partnership Development
  • Ayoka Noelle Mota Samuels
    Associate Vice Chancellor of Technology Sector Strategy
  • Corey Young
    Executive Director, Economic and Workforce Innovation
  • Allison Zures
    Dean, Career and Continuing Education Programs, Dean of Instruction, Truman College
  • Blanca Acevedo
    Director of Grants Administration
  • Gustavo Alatta
    Full-time Professor, Wright College
  • Laurie Alfaro
    Associate Professor & Educator, Elated Media Group
  • Vincent Alvarez
    Director of Apprenticeship/Work-Based Learning Programs
  • Melissa Damewood
    Dean, Academic and CTE Programs, Dean of Instruction, Kennedy-King College
  • Carolyn Daigre Duroseau
    Adjunct Lecturer
  • Stacia Edwards
    Deputy Provost
  • Jenny Flores
    Tech Advisor (PRI)
  • Fredricka Holloway
    Organizational Leader
  • Lateef Idris
    Project Coordinator, Kennedy-King College
  • Elisa Jaurez-Lopez
    Student Development Coordinator
  • Monica Merriweather
    Educator & Advisor
  • Jenetta O’neal
    Director of Workforce Partnerships, Wright College
  • Connie Rutledge
    Director of Workforce Partnership Development
  • Ayoka Noelle Mota Samuels
    Associate Vice Chancellor of Technology Sector Strategy
  • Corey Young
    Executive Director, Economic and Workforce Innovation
  • Allison Zures
    Dean, Career and Continuing Education Programs, Dean of Instruction, Truman College

Tech Faculty at City Colleges

The faculty at City Colleges of Chicago are a dedicated group of educators who are deeply committed to their students’ success. With a wealth of industry experience and academic expertise, they provide a supportive and engaging learning environment that encourages students to reach their full potential.

The faculty’s commitment is evident in their personalized approach to teaching, offers of mentorship, and ongoing efforts to stay current with the latest technological advancements.

They strive to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a competitive field, ensuring that every student is prepared for a successful career.

Center of Excellence Team

The IT Center of Excellence team at City Colleges of Chicago is a group of passionate and experienced professionals dedicated to empowering students with cutting-edge IT skills. Their work helps create a dynamic learning environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and excellence. By leveraging industry partnerships and state-of-the-art technology, they aim to prepare students for successful careers in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

  • Ayoka Mota Samuels, AVC Tech Sector Strategy
  • Fredricka Holloway, Tech Launchpad Director at Kennedy-King College
  • Lateef Idris, Tech Launchpad Coordinator at Kennedy-King College
  • Pamella Andersen, Manager of Continuing Education and Customized Training
  • Christopher Krypel, Manager of IT Programs and Student Supports
  • Ayoka Mota Samuels, AVC Tech Sector Strategy
  • Fredricka Holloway, Tech Launchpad Director at Kennedy-King College
  • Lateef Idris, Tech Launchpad Coordinator at Kennedy-King College
  • Pamella Andersen, Manager of Continuing Education and Customized Training
  • Member TK, Director of IT Academic Programs
  • Member TK, Manager of Student Support