Leaders from Across Chicago's Suburbs Selected for Prestigious Edgar Fellows Program

URBANA — The Chicago suburbs will be well represented in the 2026 Edgar Fellows Program, with a diverse group of elected officials, business leaders and public policy professionals from communities throughout the region chosen to participate in one of Illinois' premier leadership development initiatives.

This year's suburban Fellows include Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta, Elgin City Council Member Diana Alfaro, Berwyn community health leader Dr. Tameeka Christian, Elmhurst DuPage County Board Member Cindy Cronin Cahill, Glen Ellyn State Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, St. Charles Mayor Clint Hull, Downers Grove government affairs executive Lauren Neill and Bartlett attorney Judith Soto. Together, they reflect the broad range of public, private and nonprofit leadership that defines Chicago's suburban communities.

The Fellows will participate in the Edgar Fellows Executive Leadership Training Program Aug. 2-6 at the University of Illinois' I-Hotel and Conference Center in Urbana-Champaign. Throughout the week, participants will examine major policy issues facing Illinois—including artificial intelligence, electric capacity, workforce development, criminal justice, Medicaid, proposed data centers and the state budget—while learning from leaders representing every region and sector of the state.

Founded by the late Gov. Jim Edgar in 2012, the Edgar Fellows Program was built around a simple but enduring idea: Illinois is stronger when future leaders develop relationships across political, geographic and professional boundaries before they are called upon to solve difficult public policy challenges. Rather than focusing on a single profession or level of government, each class intentionally includes elected officials, business executives, labor representatives, nonprofit leaders and senior government administrators.

Former Congressman and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the program continues to fulfill Governor Edgar's vision.

"It was Jim Edgar's goal to bring together up-and-coming leaders with different backgrounds and politics from across Illinois. Governor Edgar's vision continues to provide unique leadership training for Illinois' future leaders."

For suburban participants, the program provides an opportunity to exchange ideas with leaders from Chicago, central Illinois and downstate communities while building relationships that extend far beyond the classroom. Those statewide connections have become one of the hallmarks of the Edgar Fellows experience.

Governor Edgar often described the transformation he witnessed during each class.

"With each class, it has been gratifying to watch people who were strangers on Sunday become good friends by Thursday. It's what the Edgar Fellows program is all about, finding common ground and respect, so that our Fellows can work together to help shape a better Illinois."

With the addition of the 2026 class, the Edgar Fellows alumni network will approach 550 leaders who continue collaborating through alumni programs and statewide professional relationships.

2026 Edgar Fellows Class

• Mary Alexander-Basta, Mayor of Bolingbrook
• Diana Alfaro, Elgin Council Member and Latinx Business Development Manager, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development
• Jennifer Allison, Peoria County Board Member
• Oswaldo Alvarez, Executive Director, Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation
• Cohen Barnes, Mayor of DeKalb
• Gia Biagi, Secretary, Illinois Department of Transportation
• Kari Bush, Chair, Stark County Board of Supervisors
• Rob Carney, Manager of State Government Affairs-Midwest Region, Caterpillar
• Peter Chico, Chicago Alderman, 10th Ward
• Tameeka Christian, Director, Pritzker Community Health Initiative
• James Clayton, President and CEO, Illinois Chamber of Commerce
• Cindy Cronin Cahill, DuPage County Board Member
• Rep. Lisa Davis
• Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa
• Rep. Kimberly du Buclet
• Andrew Erbes, Vice Chairman, Jackson County Board
• Jonathan Feipel, Executive Director, Illinois Commerce Commission
• Ald. Jessica L. Fuentes
• Emily Goldman, First Assistant Deputy Governor for Education
• Earl Grandberry, Director of National Bridgebuilding Initiatives, Interfaith America
• Robyn Heffern, Vermilion County Clerk
• Dan Hohl, Illinois State Medical Society
• Grace Hong Duffin, Comcast
• Clint Hull, Mayor of St. Charles
• Gregg Jeffords, Mayor of Metropolis
• Rep. Gregg Johnson
• Marcus Jordan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting
• Sen. Patrick Joyce
• Michael Mahoney, Chief of Staff to the Will County Executive
• Samantha McClain, Chief of Staff, Illinois AFL-CIO
• Linda K. Moore, Mayor of Quincy
• Lauren Neill, T-Mobile
• Crystal Olsen, Advocate Health
• Sen. Willie Preston
• Sean Rapelyea, Office of Gov. JB Pritzker
• Carlos Rivas Jr., Civilian Office of Police Accountability/Chicago Board of Education
• Tim Ruestman, Candidate for State Representative, District 105
• Judith Soto, AbbVie
• Sen. Rachel Ventura
• Jason Warfel, Chair, Jasper County Board
• Tiffany White, Executive Director, The Dirksen Congressional Center.