SANDY MATTHEWS has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, and development, with a focus on advocating for family, children, youth, and education. Working at Illinois Action for Children since 2007, she is responsible for organizational relationship development, strategic partnerships, generating revenue through foundations and corporate donors, and corporate advisory board development. Previously, as chief of staff to the assistant secretary for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Education, she oversaw the office of the assistant secretary, including program planning, communications messaging, constituent outreach, and daily operations.

From 1998 to 2006, Ms. Matthews was a senior program consultant for the Michael and Juanita Jordan Endowment Fund, overseeing day-to-day operations and raising capital to support the fund’s commitment to children, families, and education. Prior to that, she was director of public affairs for the office of the chancellor and the seven City Colleges of Chicago. In that capacity, she successfully positioned City Colleges of Chicago as a national model for urban post-secondary education. A graduate of North Central College with a bachelor’s in English and French, she earned her MJ degree in child and family law from Loyola Law School in Chicago.