Governor’s Office Academy of Leadership

Welcome to the 2025 G.O.A.L. fellows! This highly-competitive program was designed to provide a robust professional development opportunity for mid-level leaders who maintain critical roles in advancing key initiatives and maintaining optimal operations for the State.

32 people make up this year's cohort. This group was selected from hundreds of applicants by a multi-agency evaluator panel and represents a diverse pool of leaders committed to advancing public service in State Government. Meet the 2025 G.O.A.L. cohort:

• Tricia Bennett, Department of Revenue
• Vaughn Bentley, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
• Adam Bourdette. Department of Innovation and Technology
• Sunshine Clemons, Department of Public Health
• Michelle Curby, Department of Agriculture
• Patricia Dominguez, Illinois Gaming Board
• Jesse Escarpita, Department of Human Services
• Michelle Evans, Department of Human Services
• Natalie Gilbert, Department of Children and Family Services
• MaCassa Johnson, Department of Central Management Services
• Russell Krug, Department of Agriculture
• Alda Leavy-Skinner, Criminal Justice Information Authority
• Carmen Lebron, Department of Human Services
• Amanda Lerch, Department of Human Services
• Anggi Lewis, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
• Kelsey Lock, Department of Healthcare and Family Services
• Manuel Lopez, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
• Kajanda Love, Department of Central Management Services
• Rebecca Mendoza, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
• Jacqueline Pesenko, Department of Children and Family Services
• Leticia Pickens, Governor’s Office of Management and Budget
• Jakub Piechnik, Department of Employment Security
• Mohammed Rahman, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
• Jeff Rath, Illinois State Fire Marshall
• Melissa Reyes, Department of Children and Family Services
• Rhea Rucker, Office of the Governor
• Ula Rzepien, Department of Healthcare and Family Services
• Megan Seitzinger, Illinois Commerce Commission
• Madison Sergent, Illinois Emergency Management Agency – Office of Homeland Security
• Robert Van Bebber, Department of Public Health
• Micaela Vidaña, Illinois Capital Development Board
• Warren Wilke, Department of Innovation and Technology

The Governor's Office Academy of Leadership (G.O.A.L.) is an exciting program open to mid-level merit compensation and exempt leaders in executive branch agencies* under the Office of the Governor. These leaders are the backbone of State government and play critical roles in providing stability through transitions and maintaining the operations that serve the State's mission.  The G.O.A.L. program provides an opportunity to develop leadership skillsets, build long-term relationships across agencies, and broaden perspectives to lead effectively in a diverse and changing environment.  

This program has been created for the purpose of advancing excellence in public service leadership. Leaders in public service organizations share many traditional roles and responsibilities with business leaders, but there are some significant differences: Public Service leaders are the stewards of citizen trust, and their overarching purpose is to provide for the common good, applying fiscal responsibility but not exclusively focused on a financial bottom line. The motivation that calls leaders to public service and the unique and tremendous responsibility they are entrusted with shapes how they lead and innovate to provide for the public welfare.

*For ease of communication, the term Agency is used here to refer to all organizations under the jurisdiction of The Governor's Office, to include Offices, Boards, Commissions, etc.

For questions, please email cms.goal@illinois.gov.