Under the stewardship of our directors, CIS of Chicago is known as a high-performing affiliate of Communities In Schools’ national network. Directors lead our programming, partnership, and development teams, managing our best resources to meet and exceed CIS standards.
The outcomes of their leadership is evident. In the summer of 2016, CIS of Chicago was selected for Communities In Schools’ Growth and Impact Initiative, enabling the organization to expand service to more schools and more students.
Executive Leadership Team
Name | Title |
---|---|
Jane Mentzinger | Chief Executive Officer |
Judith Allen | Chief Operating Officer and Clinical Director |
Bartholomew St. John | Chief Innovation and Communications Officer |
Marianne Woodward | Chief Resource Officer |
Robin Koelsch | Senior Director of Partnerships |
Lo Patrick | Senior Director of Intensive Student Supports |

Program Staff
We work with schools in two ways — by connecting schools to schoolwide and group-focused programs and by placing master’s level staff members in schools to provide specialized support to students. The services we connect to schools are provided by a robust network of local organizations we call community partners.
Name | Title |
---|---|
Simon Applyrs | Student Supports Manager |
Sucada Bell | Associate Director of School Partnerships |
Brian Broccolo | Freshmen Rising Coordinator |
Allison Brown | Associate Director of Integrated Student Supports |
Jacqueline Calles | Student Supports Manager |
LaDonna Curry | Senior Student Supports Manager |
L’Kenya Dalcour | Student Supports Manager |
Crystle Dino | Student Supports Manager |
Stephanie Estrada | Senior Student Supports Manager |
Jenellie Exclusa | Student Supports Manager |
Paul Fagen | Field Supervisor |
Rasnick Fullard | Field Supervisor |
Emma Heidorn | Student Supports Manager |
Daniel Heiniger | School Partnership Specialist |
Juanita Herrera | Student Supports Manager |
Diamond Howard | Student Supports Manager |
Asha Jenkins | Student Supports Manager |
Jessica Juarez | Field Supervisor |
Liz Keo | Student Supports Manager |
Adenia Linker | Professional Learning Facilitator |
Katia Marzolf Borione | Arts Partnership Specialist |
Megan McCormick | Student Supports Manager |
Marshall Mitchell | School Partnership Specialist |
Otti Pineda | Student Supports Manager |
Jeanine Pittman | Student Supports Manager |
Olga Preciado | Student Supports Manager |
Melissa Richardson | Student Supports Manager |
Aisha Robinson | Consultant |
Karen Roddie | Associate Director of Community Partnerships |
Mary Rosenwinkel | Health Partnership Specialist |
Kelli Russell | Student Supports Manager |
Jackie Salazar | Field Supervisor |
Jessica Salgado | Student Supports Manager |
Varney Selli | Student Supports Manager |
Clare Spaulding | School Partnership Specialist |
Kenneth Stratton | Student Supports Manager |
Rishona Taylor | College and Career Partnership Specialist |
Chavara Turner | Student Supports Manager |
Maria Watson | Student Supports Manager |
LaToya Winton | Student Supports Manager |
Simone Woods | Senior Student Supports Manager |
Administrative Staff
This team is composed of the communications, development, and human resources staff dedicated to supporting the program team and directors. The team is responsible for office and fiscal management, fundraising (including corporate and individual giving), and communications (including the website, annual report, and social media).
Name | Title |
---|---|
David Cotugno | Senior Gifts Officer |
Maria Miranda | Associate Director of Development |
Mary Kate Paetow-Fanning | Donor Relations Coordinator |
Shipra Panicker | Associate Director of Operations |
Katie Rankin | Communications Specialist |
Arsen Sarkisian | Data Administrator |
Laura Zajac | Development Assistant |