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
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
Abby Beck, Student Director
Graduate Student, University of Illinois
Abby is originally from Texas and graduated with her B.S. in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. Abby is now pursuing her master’s and will begin her PhD work at the University of Illinois in Civil Engineering. During her undergrad, Abby served as the president for the Greater Austin Engineers Without Borders Chapter. Abby hopes to continue to use her engineering skillset to improve our built world. In her spare time, she likes to cook, read, and explore the outdoors.
Jordan Billingsley, Director
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.
Elaine Mitchell, Director
Dr. Ashlynn S. Stillwell, Director
Associate Professor and the Elaine F. and William J. Hall Excellence Faculty Scholar in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ashlynn’s research focuses on creating sustainable water and energy systems in a policy-relevant context. She earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri (2006), and an M.S. in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering (2010), M.P.Aff in Public Affairs (2010), and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (2013) from The University of Texas at Austin. She previously served as Chair of the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Central Illinois and Faith in Place. She is a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Urbana and enjoys reading, gardening, and cooking.
Alicia Trezise, Director
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