Our Team

Fairouz has a passion for - and deep experience with - building community and strengthening civic engagement through dialogue and partner-centered programming. She has worked with immigrants and refugees in Champaign County and rural Colorado, and as a women’s rights advocate and journalist in the Middle East. 

She enjoys spending time outdoors with her sons and relaxing with a good book when life isn’t too busy.

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Rebecca Amato is an educator and historian whose work focuses on the intersections between cities, place, and memory, with a special focus on mobilizing the public humanities for social justice advocacy. She has been a practitioner and teacher of public history for more than 20 years. Her work has appeared in Radical Roots: Civic Engagement, Public History, and a Tradition of Social Justice Activism (ed. Denise Meringolo) and A People’s Guide to New York City, (eds. Carolina Bank Muñoz, Penny Lewis, and Emily Molina), among others. She holds a PhD in United States History from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

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Jane Beachy is a producer and curator of performances, exhibitions, public programs, and intentional initiatives. Among the projects she has developed, directed, and produced at Illinois Humanities are the Elective Studies Series, Rapid Response Series, Envisioning Justice, a national convening entitled Inside & Out: The Humanities and Mass Incarceration, Chicago Style, and A People’s Salon. She is also the founder and director of Salonathon, “a home for underground, emerging, and genre-defying art.” Jane is a member of the Links Hall board of directors and has taught courses and workshops in arts leadership and curatorial practice at Northwestern University, University of Chicago, and Beloit College. She believes that bringing people together with intention makes the world go 'round.

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Jessica (she/her) brings experience in fundraising events, individual giving, community engagement, and volunteer management to Illinois Humanities from her previous roles in Chicago theatre organizations and other non-profits within the Chicagoland area. She grew up in the suburbs of Chicago before studying Arts Management at the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point. Outside of work, Jessica spends time attending shows at various Chicagoland theatres, exploring museums, bookstores, and new restaurants with her husband, and curling up with a good book and her dog. 

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B.B. is the grants program manager at Illinois Humanities and is a Chicago-raised artist and professional. He is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago where he studied theatre fine arts and advertising/public relations with a focus on women and gender studies. B.B. is a storyteller - be it through podcasting, drag artistry, or data research. He is responsible for two mischievous cats and for maintaining the Illinois Humanities grants portal.

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Madeline studied Journalism and Latino Media & Communication at DePaul University. Prior to joining Illinois Humanities in March 2022, Maddie supported families as a Bilingual Office Coordinator for a tutoring center and interned at In These Times Magazine, Telemundo Chicago and WTTW's Chicago Tonight in addition to being a Chicago Documenter for City Bureau. She is committed to social justice and uplifting stories especially within the Latinx community and spends her free time watching movies and trying new coffee shops and restaurants.

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Originally from central Ohio, Michael Foley made the leap to Chicago with a group of optimistic college friends, fueled by dreams of founding the next Steppenwolf Theater. While the theater journey may have been "almost-but-not-quite," it ignited his passion for the transformative power of non-profit work in communities. Since then, Michael has dedicated his career to collaborating with political, social, and arts organizations.

In his role as Senior Manager of Operations and Human Resources, Michael seamlessly blends his expertise in stage and production management with a commitment to fostering collaborative environments. His leadership empowers program and administrative teams to excel in their work.

Beyond the professional sphere, Michael finds joy in traveling the world with his partner, an experience that deepens his appreciation for the place he proudly calls home.

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Vicki joined Illinois Humanities in October 2022. Prior to this she was the Controller for The Joffrey Ballet. Vicki has over 25 years of Non-Profit accounting experience working with various Arts and Cultural institutions over her career. Vicki currently serves on a quarterly panel where she shares real world experiences in the Non-Profit Finance field to students enrolled in the Non-Profit Management and Principles Class at DePaul University. In her spare time Vicki likes to travel and explore various National Parks with her husband, three children and her dog Cody.

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Mark Hallett serves as the Director of Grants Programs at Illinois Humanities, a role he has held for over a decade. A lifelong Chicagoan, Mark’s experiences extend far beyond the city, having spent time in Brazil, Mexico, Norway, and Spain.

Before joining Illinois Humanities, Mark worked in grantmaking at the McCormick Foundation, focusing on journalism initiatives such as ethnic media, youth media, news literacy, and press freedom.

In his free time, Mark enjoys creating visual art and researching his family history.

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Morven Higgins joined Illinois Humanities as Interim Director of Development in November 2021. She has over ten years of experience working in the nonprofit sector primarily in development and administration. She began her career at Piven Theatre Workshop, a nonprofit arts education organization in Evanston, IL, where she served as Director of Finance, Education, and Operations overseeing education and community partnerships programs that served over 1,000 students annually. During her tenure, she grew foundation funding, initiated a new corporate residency program, and launched new class offerings. More recently, she worked as Director of Development and Communications at a Chicago-based public health nonprofit working to advance health equity and as a development consultant. Morven is a proud humanist with a degree in English from the University of Chicago. In her free time she works as a teaching artist, creating devised new works with young people.

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Kurt has been a part of the Illinois Humanities team for over a year, bringing valuable experience from his eight years in the non-profit sector prior to joining Illinois Humanities. With a strong focus on finance, Kurt takes pride in seeing how Illinois Humanities enriches the communities it serves through a financial lens.

In his spare time, Kurt loves spending quality time with his family and enjoys exploring the outdoors whenever possible.

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Martin Matsuyuki Krause is a cultural programmer, researcher, writer, educator, organizer, and artist with a decade of experience working at intersections of equity in education, the arts, and culture. At Illinois Humanities, Martin helps to manage a diverse portfolio of local, statewide, and national cultural engagements serving to strengthen our civic fabric and foster better futures. Martin has developed and led youth arts and education programs across Chicago with ArtShould, Margaret’s Village, Chicago Public Schools, Logan Center for the Arts, the Smart Museum, the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, Court Theatre, and Arts + Public Life, and previously served as a District 1 Youth Commissioner at San Francisco City Hall. He maintains writing, painting, sculpture, and printmaking practices and has worked in several pathology and neuroscience laboratories. Martin studied the philosophies of mind, art, and physics at the University of Chicago with a focus on the material basis of thriving, receiving a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and neuroscience and a master’s degree in the humanities.

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Margy LaFreniere is the Program Manager of Teaching and Learning. She works with educators, students, librarians, and families through the Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards and Illinois Humanities' educator network. Her background as a middle school humanities teacher, an out-of-school time STEM educator, and a curriculum developer all inform her work at Illinois Humanities. She's forever rereading The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.

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Gabrielle Lyon received her BA and MA in history from the University of Chicago and her PhD in Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a nationally recognized nonprofit leader, educator, and public speaker with experience in launching and leading social impact organizations and initiatives focused on leveling the playing field of educational access and opportunity. She joined Illinois Humanities as the Executive Director in June 2019. Prior to that she served as Vice President of Education and Experience at the Chicago Architecture Center and as a senior researcher at the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is the founding executive director of Project Exploration, a nonprofit dedicated to changing the face of science for youth and girls of color, which was recognized locally and nationally, including with a Presidential Award for Excellence. 

Her honors include being named a 2023 Notable Leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by Crain's Chicago Business, a National After School Champion by the After School Alliance, Chicagoan of the Year by Chicago Magazine, and a Leadership Fellow with the Chicago Community Trust. Lyon has served as a social impact coach at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and as an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. Her current research and writing focus on the ways in which community-driven design and participatory humanities experiences bridge civic identities and strengthen social fabric. Lyon is the author of the graphic novels No Small Plans and Washington By and By and served as coeditor for A Simple Justice: The Challenge of Small Schools. 

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Matt Meacham has been part of the Illinois Humanities team since 2013 and is based in the southwestern Illinois office in Edwardsville. He has been deeply involved in a wide range of programs, projects, and partnerships. Currently, he manages the Museum on Main Street program and The Country and the City: Common Ground in the Prairie State. In addition, he contributes to the Foreground Rural Initiative and the Community Grants program.

A native of Randolph County, Illinois, Matt holds degrees from Centre College and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His professional background includes experience in teaching, journalism, music, and public folklore. He has worked with various cultural and educational institutions across the Midwest and South. Matt is also a columnist for the County Journal in southwestern Illinois and Illinois Heritage magazine. He is the author of A Bicentennial Crossroads: 200 Years of Continuity and Change in Rural Illinois (Illinois Open Publishing Network, 2023).

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Tony Pizarro is the Program Manager for Envisioning Justice at Illinois Humanities, where he leads impactful workshops, events, and community-focused initiatives. His work reflects a deep commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue and engagement through creative programming.

Outside of his professional role, Tony enjoys discovering new culinary experiences at different restaurants and attending plays that inspire and entertain. He also thrives on meeting new people and values the connections and stories that come with each interaction.

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Nicole’s background is in theatre and education. She has served as a teaching artist, classroom teacher, and nonprofit program leader supporting educators and students across the state. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys exploring the outdoors, spending time with family, and indulging her sweet tooth through baking.

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As the Program Operations Coordinator at Illinois Humanities, Brooklyn works across program departments to support public events, data management, and best-practice program processes. Before joining Illinois Humanities, Brooklyn planned events with The University of Chicago, the City of Detroit's Department of Neighborhoods, and other service-based nonprofits. She also taught in both elementary school and university settings and holds an M.A. in English and Gender & Sexuality Studies and a B.A. in English and Global Studies. 

In her free time, Brooklyn enjoys traveling; participating in reading groups, workshops, or art classes; and spending time with her two mischievous kittens.

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Hannah (she/her) joined Illinois Humanities in December 2023 and has experience in marketing, development, and volunteer management. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis where she studied Anthropology, Latin American Studies, and Spanish. Outside of work, you can find Hannah visiting museums, taking long walks, and eating her way through Chicago's ice cream shops.

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Zerline Thompson serves as the Program and Grants Coordinator at Illinois Humanities. With years of experience in nonprofit administration and development, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. Zerline holds a B.S. in Business Operations, which has been instrumental in her contributions to the organization’s mission.

In her free time, Zerline enjoys cooking, listening to music, and spending quality time with her family.

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Diego Villegas is the Manager of Marketing and Communications at Illinois Humanities, a role he has held since August 2024. With a career focused on harnessing the power of marketing and communications for impactful work, Diego brings a wealth of experience to this role. He previously worked at the Ad Council, where he managed national public service campaigns, including Wildfire Prevention (Smokey Bear), Adoption from Foster Care, and Buzzed Driving Prevention.

A proud native of Chicago’s north side, Diego earned a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has built his career on the belief that communication can be a catalyst for connection, community building, and meaningful change. Outside of work, Diego channels his creativity into making music, cherishes quality time with family and friends, and enjoys the delightful challenge of training his spirited puppy, Roxbury.

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Bobby brings over 15 years of experience designing and implementing strategies that fuel sustainable and impactful growth in social impact. He grew up in the Philippines and Michigan but has been a proud Illinoisan since 2004. His passion for the humanities began in Ann Arbor at The University of Michigan, which laid the foundation for his enduring affinity for the humanities as a driver for connection and public discourse. Beyond the professional realm, he finds solace and inspiration through every genre of music, the world of baseball, and the great outdoors.

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Tia K. Williams is a dedicated team member at Illinois Humanities, and proud working mom. She finds joy in reading, movies, music, and karaoke, and cherishes the moments spent with her family.

Tia’s favorite activities include spending quality time with her boys, enjoying dinner outings with her husband, and connecting with her mom, siblings, and mother-in-law.

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