Emerging Leaders from Northern Illinois Selected for Prestigious Edgar Fellows Program

URBANA — Northern Illinois communities beyond the Chicago metropolitan area will have a strong voice in the 2026 Edgar Fellows Program, with leaders from DeKalb, Rock Island County and neighboring regions joining one of Illinois' premier leadership development initiatives.

This year's class includes DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes, East Moline State Rep. Gregg Johnson and Advocate Health Area Vice President of Government Affairs Crystal Olsen, whose work serves communities throughout northern Illinois. Together, they will join 38 other emerging leaders representing government, business, labor, healthcare, nonprofits and higher education from every corner of the state.

The Edgar Fellows Executive Leadership Training Program will be held Aug. 2-6 at the University of Illinois' I-Hotel and Conference Center in Urbana-Champaign. During the week, participants will examine many of the issues shaping Illinois' future, including electric capacity, workforce development, criminal justice, artificial intelligence, proposed data centers, Medicaid and the state budget. Organizers say the week is designed not only to expose Fellows to major policy challenges, but also to encourage meaningful conversations among leaders who approach those challenges from very different perspectives.

Established in 2012 by the late Gov. Jim Edgar, the program intentionally brings together leaders from different professions, political viewpoints and geographic regions. The result is a statewide network where mayors, legislators, executives, labor leaders, nonprofit professionals and public administrators gain a broader understanding of one another's work while developing relationships that often last throughout their careers.

Former Congressman and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Distinguished Director of the program, said that commitment remains central to 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 northern Illinois participants, the program provides an opportunity to exchange ideas with leaders from Chicago, central Illinois and downstate while sharing the unique opportunities and challenges facing their own communities. Those conversations have become one of the defining strengths of the Edgar Fellows experience.

Governor Edgar frequently reflected on the relationships formed 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."

The addition of the 2026 class brings the Edgar Fellows alumni network to nearly 550 leaders committed to collaborative, ethical leadership across Illinois.

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.