Erikson Executive Fellows Program

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, July 16, 2025 — Erikson Institute is proud to announce the seventh cohort of its Executive Fellows program. At the heart of the program is a powerful premise: if a critical mass of cross-sector leaders has a deeper understanding of child development, then more effective solutions will emerge—leading to improved outcomes for children and families.

Sixteen top decision-makers from various sectors, such as government, education, and healthcare, will gain a deeper understanding of how the earliest years of life—from birth to age 5—are foundational to a child’s growth, learning, and future success. This knowledge, paired with their direct influence on policy and public resources, can help:

1. Families gain greater access to and improved quality of early childhood programs and services,
2. Enhance public systems to better align with and integrate the needs of children, and
3. Increase the availability of resources and opportunities that support healthy development.

“At Erikson we use scientific knowledge to improve conditions, with our youngest children at the center. The textbooks tell us that every single child needs loving caregivers, that every caregiver needs community and every community needs supportive systems for the people who live and work there. Our Executive Fellows Program prepares exceptional Illinois leaders to champion solutions and initiatives that support the highest return on public investments,” said Atena Danner, Associate Director of Learning and Facilitation at Erikson.

Executive Fellows alums have gone on to advance a wide range of initiatives that strengthen early childhood ecosystems across Illinois:

• A local leader championed clean energy tax credits to help reduce asthma and other health issues tied to environmental conditions affecting children.
• A nonprofit executive significantly increased access to home-based child care in Lake County, using a model that provides teachers with ongoing training and helps parents pursue work or education.
• A judge collaborated with state child welfare specialists and attorneys to streamline court timelines in child protection cases to avoid unnecessary delays contributing to a child’s disruption in care.

2025 Erikson Executive Fellows:

• Dr. Erica T. Austin, Deputy Director, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
• Avalon Betts-Gaston, Executive Director, Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice
• Benna Crawford, Managing Director of Legal Aid Chicago and Director of the Children & Families Practice Group
• Deanna Durica, Director of Public Health Policy, Cook County Department of Public Health
• Judge Ieshia E. Gray, Presiding Judge, Sauk Village Restorative Justice Community Court
• State Senator Graciela Guzmán, Illinois State Senate, District 20
• Dr. Marcus E. Johnson, President and CEO, Springfield Urban League Inc.
• Dr. Michael Karner, Regional Superintendent of Schools for Lake County, Lake County Regional Office of Education
• Judge Kimberly D. Lewis, Judge, Juvenile Court Child Protection Division, Circuit Court of Cook County
• Joshua Long, Chief Officer, Office for Students with Disabilities, Chicago Public Schools
• Dr. Debra Moore, Director of Administration, St. Clair County Board
• Dr. Tracy P. Milbrandt, Medical Director for Outpatient Pediatric Services, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
• Kate O’Connor, Executive Director, Grant Healthcare Foundation
• Alpa Patel, Chief Deputy, Office of the Cook County Public Guardian
• Dr. Shannon Swilley, Assistant Superintendent, Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53
• Anusha Thotakura, Board Member, District 6a, Chicago Board of Education

VIEW EXECUTIVE FELLOW BIOS

The Executive Fellows program is housed within Erikson’s Early Childhood Leadership Academy. For more information, please visit the website

Erikson Institute educates, inspires, and promotes leadership to serve the needs of children and families. We have the premier graduate school dedicated to child development. We provide direct services to our community’s children and families. We are leaders in influencing early childhood policy. We work tirelessly every day so that all children can achieve optimal educational, social, emotional, and physical well-being. At Erikson, we know that investing in the early years of children will last a lifetime.
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