Champaign – The Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation is pleased to announce the hiring of a new Executive Director, Michelle Gonzales. Michelle brings energy, expertise, and excellence to the Foundation and will carry on a tradition of supporting the school districts and strengthening the community’s commitment to our public schools, teachers, and students.
Michelle Gonzales has been a longtime member of the C-U community serving in a variety of professional positions. Most recently Gonzales served as Special Assistant for Strategic Initiatives in Public Engagement at the University of Illinois. Before her position at the University, Gonzales served as Legislative Assistant to former State Senator Scott Bennett. Gonzales started her career as a third-grade teacher in the Unit 4 schools where she taught for four years at Booker T. Washington Elementary School and eight years at South Side Elementary School. Gonzales has been active throughout the community participating as a member of Urbana rotary, serving on the board at Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, co-chairing the Krannert Center’s Advancement Council, and mentoring a 7th grader at Jefferson Middle School through C-U 1:1 Mentoring. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in Spanish and her Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education from Illinois State.
“Michelle is uniquely situated to help CUSF achieve its mission of strengthening the community’s commitment to our public schools,” said CUSF Board Chair and local attorney Daniel Thies. “She checks all the boxes: teacher, public servant, innovator, collaborator, leader. We are grateful that she is willing to step into this important role at a crucial time.”
Ms. Gonzales was hired from among nearly two dozen applicants following a multi-week search process, and was one of two finalists. The Board wishes to extend its thanks to its search committee, chaired by Sonya Holley, the Director for Human Resources for Student Affairs at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Ms. Gonzales, who was serving as a member of the CUSF Board before being hired, is replacing the former Executive Director Kelly Hill, who recently retired to move back to Colorado with her family.
The CUSF Board of Directors is excited to continue their work of grant distribution, fundraising, and community outreach with Michelle Gonzales leading efforts and initiatives for the Foundation.
