Foundation Board

McKinley Foundation Board of Directors, enacting the mission of the Foundation through service and engagement.

Masumi Iriye, President
Deputy Director, University of Illinois Center for Advanced Study
Masumi is currently Deputy Director of the University of Illinois Center for Advanced Study, where she has worked since 2000. She received her doctorate in the History of Art from the University of Michigan and her BA from Haverford College. She was the Costume Mistress for Champaign Urbana Ballet for 9 years and served on CUB’s Board of Directors. Just before the pandemic hit she was starting a new venture in providing costume alterations for local Drag queens. When Drag shows were canceled, she volunteered her sewing skills to various mask-making groups. She is a big fan of European murder mystery TV shows and loves geriatric dogs.

Jordan Billingsley, Vice President
Senior Design Technology Manager, Hord Coplan Macht

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Nancy Fuller, Treasurer
Retired PK-12 Education, Auburn, NE
Nancy began her professional career as an elementary teacher  before becoming a middle school teacher. After obtaining her Ph.D. in education she served as a middle school and high school principal and Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for Auburn, NE Public Schools.  In 2018, Nancy and her husband, Bert, retired and moved to Champaign to live near her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. She currently mentors at Urbana High School, volunteers at DREAAM, and participates in various service activities at Faith United Methodist Church.

Nate Brantingham, Director
“At Large” Minister & Financial Data Analyst
Nate comes with a little over three years’ experience as a Campus Minister to UIUC students.  He has a passion for working alongside students and understands the unique challenges of working with this group.  He is a PC(USA) pastor, is deeply involved with Presbytery, maintains professional connections with regional organizations, and provides consulting and future planning services for churches. 

Cristy Gillespie, Director
Director of Marketing, Experience Champaign-Urbana
As Director of Marketing for Experience Champaign-Urbana, Cristy is passionate about promoting the area as a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive community. She serves on the board of 40 North, Champaign County’s Arts Council, where she helped coordinate the organization’s website redesign and consulted on its strategic plan. Her love for Champaign-Urbana shines through years of community involvement—volunteering, hosting a rock show on WEFT, skating with the Twin City Derby Girls, and taking art and design classes at Parkland College. Outside of work, Cristy enjoys marveling at local art, playing music, practicing yoga, painting, and hanging out with family, friends, and pets.

Matthew Gladney, Director
Benefits Counselor, University of Illinois
Matt is a long-time resident of Champaign. He has worked for the University of Illinois since 2007, and was a six-year member of the McKinley Foundation board of directors, before re-joining in 2020. Matt was elected to the Champaign City Council in 2015, and re-elected in 2019. He has served on the 40 North Arts Council since 2015, and was a former elected member of the Champaign County Board, from 2006-2010. He makes his home in Champaign with his spouse, Ashley.

Grear Kimmel, Director
Retired Communications Specialist, College of ACES, University of Illinois
Grear came to Champaign in 1974 to take a job in the WICD television newsroom.  He spent five years on the staff of the CU Mass Transit District before joining ACES in 1983.  In addition to his work experience, Grear has served on number boards, including the McKinley Presbyterian Church Session (Clerk), CU United Way, the (former) Urban League of Champaign County, and South Side School PTA (President). He and his wife Linda Kimmel (of 50+ years) have a daughter and granddaughter, both of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. His principal hobby is bicycling. 

Lauryn Lehman, Director
Senior Academic Advisor, Gies College of Business, University of Illinois
Following her MS in Library & Information Sciences and MA in African Studies from UIUC, Lauryn began her professional career as an academic librarian working at higher ed institutions in Michigan and Illinois. She transitioned to a career in academic advising and undergraduate student affairs roughly five years ago, and now works as a Senior Academic Advisor at the Gies College of Business at UIUC. She lives in Urbana and spends her free time gardening, crafting, and baking.

Tim Njuguna, Student Director
Student, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Tim, a sophomore studying Materials Science & Engineering, hails from Dallas, Texas. He began attending McKinley Presbyterian Church as a freshman and has loved being part of the McKinley Community since coming to Urbana-Champaign. When not studying, he likes to dance and play the violin.

Kathy Sweedler, Director
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Site Coordinator, University of Illinois
Originally, from California, Kathy Sweedler has lived and worked in Urbana Illinois for over 30 years. Until recently, Kathy worked for University of Illinois Extension teaching personal finance in local communities. She earned her MS at University of Arizona, and BS at University of California at Davis. Kathy is currently exploring retirement and trying out new activities like working with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, a partnership between Gies College of Business and Salt & Light. Kathy is enjoying more time traveling, spending time with family, and researching family genealogy.

Alicia Trezise, Director
Social Worker, Urbana High School
Alicia has lived in Champaign-Urbana since arriving in 1983 for her undergraduate program at the U of I.  Following her BA in Psychology and her MSW degree, she worked for several years for the Children’s Home and Aid Society at the Roundhouse Shelter for Runaway and Homeless Youth. It was at the Roundhouse where she met fellow youth worker and eventual husband Don Hittle. Together, they raised three amazing sons who are all grown and paying their own bills! Currently, Alicia is working as a school social worker at Urbana High school. She loves the social justice work  and projects that the McKinley foundation supports.

Rev. Heidi Weatherford, Director
Pastor/Head of Staff, McKinley Memorial Presbyterian Church
Pastor Heidi joined McKinley Church in 2002. Heidi enjoys exploring how the ancient scriptures of Christianity and Judaism intersect with 21st-century realities that shape our faith. She often weaves music, art, poetry, current events, and activity into our worship. Her theology, a blend of old-fashioned Presbyterian and current progressive thought, means she is passionate that God’s people know they are cherished by God, who loves them as they are—no exceptions. Heidi began her career as a music educator, choral director, and performer and continues to enjoy those activities in the community.

Brandon Young-Eleazar, Student Director
Choir Director, Sixth Grade Center, Urbana School District
A recent graduate of UIUC, Brandon is now teaching locally and pursing his graduate degree in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership. They are pleased to be a Student Director for McKinley Foundation and a member of McKinley Memorial Presbyterian Church. In addition to their commitments as a student, they are the Assistant Director for Amasong, the CU feminist choir.