For Immediate Release – March 1, 2024
Gov. Pritzker Announces Four Appointments to Boards and Commissions
Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Board of Trustees
Gary Johnson will continue to serve as Chair and Member of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Board of Trustees.* Johnson currently serves as a Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Lake Forest College. He previously served as President of both the Chicago History Museum and Museums in the Park. Under his leadership, the Chicago History Museum was recognized by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and was awarded by Chicago Innovation for its emphasis on technology to produce virtual and augmented reality experiences. Johnson is also active on several non-profit and professional boards. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Legal Aid Chicago, Co-Chair of the Board of Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and is a Member of the Radio Committee of WFMT. As a Rhodes Scholar, Johnson served as head of the Rhodes Scholar selection process for the Illinois regional district for 13 years and was recognized as a Cultural Champion in 2023 by the Chicago Cultural Alliance. Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University, Master of Arts in Modern History from Oxford University, and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.
Energy Workforce Advisory Council
Lorenzo Savage will serve as a Member of the Energy Workforce Advisory Council.* Savage currently works as a Senior Architectural Designer at The Lawrence Group, drawing on his wealth of project design experience that ranges from commercial to residential. Savage and his late wife founded I Am East St. Louis The Foundation, and he currently serves as the Foundation’s Interim Executive Director. He is a past board member of the East St. Louis Housing Authority and currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the Katherine Dunham Center for the Arts and Humanities. He is also a Member of the East St. Louis Planning Commission. Savage received his Bachelor of Architecture from Hampton University.
Illinois Sports Facilities Authority
Leslie Darling will continue to serve as Chair and Member of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority.* Darling currently serves as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Art Institute of Chicago. Previously, she served the City of Chicago in a variety of roles including as the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Infrastructure Trust, the First Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Department of Law, and as Legislative Counsel in the Mayor’s Office. Prior to her tenure with the City, she was a partner at the law firm of Ungaretti & Harris LLP for seven years. Darling earned a Bachelor of Science from Bradley University and a Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law.
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
Christian Mitchell will serve as a Member of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.* Mitchell currently serves as the Vice President for Civic Engagement for the University of Chicago, overseeing state and local government relations and building strategic engagement partnerships with community and corporate partners. Previously he served as Deputy Governor for Public Safety, Energy and Infrastructure for Governor Pritzker, overseeing a host of State agencies including the Illinois Department of Transportation, Department of Corrections, State Police and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. He led the groundbreaking work of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, the legalization of cannabis and the Rebuild Illinois capital construction program. He previously was elected State Representative for Illinois’ 26th District and served as the Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Illinois. His career began as a community organizer for Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation on Chicago’s south side. Mitchell earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and his Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago’s School of Law.
* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.
