McKinley Foundation Board of Directors, enacting the mission of the Foundation through service and engagement.
Mike Cain, President
Retired, Superintendent of Champaign Community Schools Unit District 4
Mike worked all of his professional career for the Champaign Unit 4 School District. Over 34 year, he taught PE at Garden Hills Elementary School, was principal at South Side and Westview Elementary Schools and Columbia Magnet Middle School. His career ended in the central office as an Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent of Unit 4 Schools. He was introduced to McKinley by his wife Jane more than 50 years ago.
Masumi Iriye, Vice President
Deputy Director, University of Illinois Center for Advanced Studies
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.
Boswell Hutson, Secretary
Media/Communications Specialist, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois
Boswell is a 26-year Central Illinois resident, growing up in Monticello and living in C-U since 2011, save for a brief six-month stint in London. He currently serves in the Public Affairs department at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois, where he writes press releases and science stories about the center’s many research breakthroughs. In addition to his work at NCSA, Boswell is a freelance writer whose work has been featured in The Washington Post and The Chicago Sun-Times, and is also the creator and publisher of Champaign Showers, a local news aggregation blog and podcast network.
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.
Jordan Billingsley, Director
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.
Carrie Chandler, Director
Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner, University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Carrie has been a rehabilitation specialist in the teaching hospital for 8 years where she teaches students and staff, and works closely with clients. Outside of work, she dedicates much of her time to the nonprofit organization Girls Rock! C-U that she co-founded in 2015. Carrie herself is a musician, both performing and teaching lessons. She is also a mentor with the C-U One to One Mentoring Program and has a passion for serving the community.
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.
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.
Melissa Steinkoenig, Director
Director for General Education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Melissa has worked for the University of Illinois since 2007 and is currently the Director for General Education. She has spent the majority of her life in the area, and currently lives in Urbana with her husband Mike and dog Max. She attended McKinley Church throughout her youth (Newell family), and participated in many service trips, including ones to New York City, North Dakota, and Mexico. She earned all three of her degrees (BS, EdM, PhD) at the U of I. She has been a mentor with C-U One to One and a CASA guardian ad litem. Melissa loves art, crafting, sports, traveling, reading, live music, and spending time with family.
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
Student, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Brandon is a senior majoring in Music Education and is student teaching in Spring 2025. 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.