We are excited to announce this year’s Edgar Fellows! The Edgar Fellow Program helps support emerging leaders drive meaningful change in their communities and beyond through lessons, networking opportunities, and training inspired by the leadership style of Edgar.
Fellows are nominated across political and cultural boundaries and learn to work together to achieve real change.
2025 Edgar Fellows
- Representative Harry Benton, Plainfield
- Jennifer Bruzan Taylor, Naperville, former Naperville City Council Member
- Representative Mary Beth Canty, Arlington Heights
- Alex Carmona, Peoria, Peoria City Council Member
- Courtney Carson, Decatur, Vice President of External Affairs and EnRich at Richland Community College
- Lucy Chang-Evans, Naperville, DuPage County Board Member
- Katherine Coyle, Peoria, District Director for Congressman Darin LaHood
- Ruth Cruz, Chicago, Alderman in 30th Ward
- Rachel Dame, Chicago, Senior Manager, State and Local Government Affairs for American Airlines
- James Dodge, Mayor of Orland Park
- Joseph Duffy, Chicago, Executive Director of Climate Jobs Illinois
- Senator Mary Edly-Allen, Grayslake
- Cynthia Flores, Chicago, Deputy General Counsel and Deputy Chief Compliance Officer in the office of Governor of Illinois
- Gabriela Garza, Springfield, Director of Government Affairs at Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and appointed to Business Enterprise Council of Illinois
- Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton, Western Springs
- Brett Grimm, Morton, Chairman of Tazewell County Board
- Chris Guy, Maryville, Madison County Board Member and Senior Director of Business Development and Government Affairs at Illinois American Water
- Clayton Harris III, Chicago, Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Speaker of the House
- Tiffany Hightower, Chicago, Executive Director of Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation
- Senator Darby Hills, Barrington Hills
- Nicholas Klitzing, Winnetka, Partner and Co-Founder of Validus, former White House intern, and former Executive Director of Illinois Republican Party
- Timmy Knudsen, Chicago, Alderman in 43rd Ward
- Maria Virginia Martinez, Chicago, Senior Government Relations Director at Point of Difference Strategies at Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres law firm
- Melissa Neddermeyer, Mayor of Willow Springs
- Christina Neitzke-Troike, Mayor of Homer Glen
- Anthony Ortiz, Elgin, City Council Member At-Large and Director of Operations for Kane County’s State’s Attorney’s office
- David Pileski, Mayor of Roselle, Senior Manager of Purchasing Operations and Automation Technology Solutions at W. W. Grainger
- Tyler Power, Milan, Director of Government Relations for Hy-Vee, Inc.
- Matthew Prochaska, Oswego, Clerk of the Circuit Court in Kendall County
- Dulce Quintero, Chicago, Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services
- Mark Revis, Plainfield, Will County Board Member
- Lou Sandoval, Chicago, President and CEO of Illinois Chamber of Commerce
- Representative Brandun Schweizer, Danville
- Danielle Stanley, Chicago, Senior Government Affairs Manager for Partnership for College Completion
- Representative Nabeela Syed, Palatine
- Tricia Teague, Danville, Alderman in Ward 4
- Amanda Vinicky, Chicago, Director of Communications at Intersect Illinois
- Senator Craig Wilcox, Woodstock
- DeShawn Williams, Mayor of Urbana
- Brad Wilson, Benton, Franklin County Board Member and President of District 47 School Board
