Mission

Dr. Terrell Odom is a U.S. Navy veteran born in Chicago and raised in the Auburn Gresham, Englewood, and South Shore communities. He served in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, caring for sick and injured Sailors and Marines. As a personal victim to gun violence and trauma, losing his sister in 2016 and a brother in 2018, Terrell understands the impact that gun violence and trauma has on the body, mind, and community. His family is still undergoing the difficult transition of healing, while facing daily realities of increased violence and trauma in the communities. 

After discharging from military service, Terrell shifted away from his desire to become a neurosurgeon, due to caring for two terminally ill parents. It was in his educational journey that he found his purpose - education. Terrell has worked in higher education for over 15 years, as an administrator, a student services professional and faculty member, at trade and technical schools and, two and four-year universities, at public and private institutions. 

Terrell received his Bachelor of Science from DeVry University, his Master of Business Administration in Accounting from American Military University,  a Master of Public Administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management, a Masters of Online Teaching and a Certification for Online Learning Administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield, a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology from Western Illinois University (conferral 2021), and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from Chicago State University. He also holds an Illinois Educator License with a Chief School Business Official endorsement. 

During his career, Terrell has constructed policies that incorporated military experience into institutional credit and stackable credentials, created college-level courses specific to transitioning service members, fostered environments that were engaging and conducive for the student veteran, and published research on awareness, access, and supporting military-affiliated students. He also serves as an ambassador on the American Legion's Military Credentialing Roundtable, and as an accredited Veteran Services Officer with the National Association of Black Veterans (NABVETS). 

Dr. Matthew Schumacher is a National Security Psychologist and Consultant for the LASD Detective Division. Formerly, he was a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy and has a decade of experience in Military and Operationally Focused Psychology & Leadership Consultation with multiple deployments to Iraq, Africa, and Afghanistan including in support of special operations forces and the intelligence community. He is an expert in military and national security psychology, psychological response to disasters and psychiatric emergences, and has robust experiencing teaching medical, special operations, intelligence, and law enforcement personnel. In 2015 he was the first officer to complete the Navy’s Joint, Interagency Operational Psychology Fellowship sponsored by DEVGRU and the Defense Intelligence Agency. From 2013 to 2018 he was Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, teaching and supervising psychologists and psychiatrists in inpatient and emergency psychiatry, deployment psychology, and crisis/disaster response. He ended his military career with Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command (MARSOC) as embedded operational psychologist in April 2018. He is a fully qualified SERE psychologist, holds a TS/SCI clearance, and is qualified to support High Value Detainee Interrogations (HIG). He has trained or deployed with special units of USASOC, NSW, MARSOC, LAPD, DIA, CIA, NSA, and the FBI.

Prior to his military career, Dr. Schumacher spent three years as a psychiatry researcher at Stanford School of Medicine, focusing on inpatient and emergency clinical trials in Bipolar Disorders. His research background has focused on psychiatric emergencies and his dissertation examined the problem of suicide among active duty military members. 

Dr. Schumacher earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 2011 from Northern Illinois University and completed his internship at the Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA. He completed formal post-doctoral training in Operational Psychology in 2015. He completed undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Chicago, where he also captained the varsity track and field team and played varsity football. 

Brandon Benjamin is a police officer with the University of Chicago Police Department. A Chicago native, he currently polices in the neighborhood where he grew up.  

Ofc. Benjamin is a United States

Navy veteran with previous experience in supply, rapid response to emergencies, and

emergency first aid. While in the Navy, Ofc. Benjamin received several outstanding yearly evaluations along with a letter of commendation from the USS George Washington. 

Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, Ofc Benjamin attended Harold Washington Community College in Chicago. Excelling and graduating with honors from Harold Washington, he then went on to obtain his Bachelor degree in Criminology, Law, and Justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago with distinction, and a Master of Science in Threat Response Management from the University of Chicago's Graham School. 

Benjamin still resides on the south side of Chicago and is pursuing an education in

Brazilian jiu jitsu with ambition to become a black belt one day.

Anita L. Smith, a U.S. Army veteran and spouse of a U.S. Army veteran, has actively contributed at the University of Chicago for 13 years, stewarding financial management at both University Communications and the University of Chicago Law School, and working with staff to launch new and innovative financial modeling and project management tools. She has worked on veteran initiatives for the University since its conception in 2010 and currently serves as a founding member of the University’s Veterans and Family Readiness Program and advisor to the Office for Military-Affiliated Communities.. Anita leads efforts to recognize and enhance visibility for veterans and attract talented veterans to join the community, encourages veteran outreach across the University and throughout Chicago, and helps strategically implement resources for the families within the military-affiliated community. 

She is a member of the Midwest Finance Association and Veterans Leadership Council. Passionate about and committed to helping others, she is often sought after for presenting at various events throughout the Chicagoland area for veterans and their families.

Akya Gossit MSW is a Chicago native and U.S. Army veteran, who resides in the Englewood community. She has experience working with high risk populations, military veterans and adults. This includes conducting individual and family counseling surrounding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT),  and Trauma Informed and Task Oriented therapy. 

Akya has conducted research on African American Women's resiliency in college, and she has also collaborated as a board member for the Illinois Board of Higher Education, an advisor to the Office for Military-Affiliated Communities at the University of Chicago, a social worker intern at Chicago Public Schools, and a Supportive Services for Veterans Families Coordinator at Volunteers of America. 

Akya earned her Bachelor of Social Work from Governors State University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Chicago. She is the single mother of two young sons, and finds passion in assisting underserved populations. 

Dr. Stacey Dixon is a retired U. S. Marine Corps, Chief Warrant Officer who served as the first female Meteorology and Oceanography Officer in the Marine Corps serving during Desert Shield/Storm and the Afghanistan Wars. Over her 21 years with the Marine Corps, Dr. Dixon duties included her work as a METOC Officer, Drill Instructor, Weapons and Tactics Instructor and was the Executive Officer of Airfield Company upon her retirement. Stacey was born and raised on the South-side of Chicago and attended Chicago Public Schools, graduating from Lindblom Technical High School (1980s), located in the Englewood community. She was one of the early candidates in the INROADS that educated and inspired urban youth in areas of business, computer science, and engineering programs.
 

After retirement from the Marine Corps and completion of her MBA, Stacey was recruited by Edward Jones as a Financial Advisor and Stock Broker.  In 2008, due to family concerns, Stacey returned to Chicago and began her teaching career as a JROTC /Financial Literacy /Health and Fitness Instructor for the Noble Network at schools in Noble Square and Englewood. 

In 2017, Stacey made a career change and began work as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer at National Louis University with the Veterans and Military Program. Because of her committed work and passion as the Coordinator, in 2018, she was appointed the Director of Student Veteran Support Services, the position she currently holds. Stacey also serves as the SVA-IL Regional Director for the Chicagoland area. She is a member of National Women Veterans United (NWVU), an organization that empowers women veterans, the Woman Marines Association, and future member of the Montford Point Marines Association. 

Stacey received her Bachelors’ degree with dual studies from Chapman University and Thomas Edison with majors in Child Psychology and Natural Science and Mathematics in 2004; a Masters’ in Business Administration in 2006 from National University in San Diego, Ca; and in 2015, she received her Doctorates in Organizational Leadership from Argosy University in Chicago, IL where she became a member of the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society. Stacey is also a Certified Personal/Professional/Executive Coach through the World Coaching Institute.
 

Stacey is the sole owner of ‘Ten20Artworks’. Her original pieces depict the struggles of women of color and the disparities within her community. Among her many recognitions, Stacey is a member of the Adler University Black Women in STEAM Panel (2020, 2019), a recipient of the Illinois Bicentennial Honor 200 Award (2018), and the Inspirational Leader Award (2004) from the U. S. Marine Corps. 

Dr. David Hampton is originally from Bellevue, Washington. He received Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and a Minor in Writing from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After completing a Medical Doctorate from Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, he served a 5-year active duty obligation with the United States Navy. Dr. Hampton attended Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR for his General Surgery training, followed by a Trauma/Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago Department of Surgery, Section of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. He is also an active Naval Reservist assigned to the 4th Marine Logistic Group, Surgical Company Bravo.

Dr. Hampton has received several awards and honors for his academic work, including the Donald D. Trunkey, MD Award for Ethics and Professionalism, the Raymond H. Alexander, MD Resident Paper Competition Award and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Fellow Scholarship. 

CAPT(Ret) Dr. Gregg Montalto is a US Navy veteran and a board certified Pediatrician who has a passion for working in underserved populations. In addition to caring for the daughters and sons of soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen, he deployed on the USNS COMFORT as part of Joint Task Force Katrina, to Camp Arifjan Kuwait in 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and as part of the 2006 Lebanese Noncombatant Evacuation Operation.  He served as 12th Marine Regimental Surgeon from 2007-2008, and as Director of Medical Operations on USNS MERCY in 2014 and 2015.  In that role, he planned both large and small-scale multilateral medical operations for the 2014 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise, and the 2015 Pacific Partnership deployment.  Before his retirement, he collaborated with the Uganda People's Defence Force to help develop an adolescent HIV treatment clinic at UPDF's main military base.  Dr. Montalto came to Chicago with a goal of using his military experience to develop a trauma-informed, comprehensive, multidisciplinary medical home for adolescents and young adults affected by community violence. He now serves as Associate Division Head for Clinical Practice and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital. 

Dr. Kenneth Wilson (Colonel, U.S. Army Reserves) – A native of Baltimore, Dr. Wilson is an Emory University graduate who attended medical school at Howard University. He has worked for more than a decade as a trauma and acute care surgeon for both adult and pediatric patients, including most recently at Hurley Hospital in Flint, Michigan, as the director of Pediatric Trauma. He treats all related conditions, including giant ventral hernias, a condition that can occur after abdominal trauma and requires an extremely complex surgical approach. Dr. Wilson has a long history as a military surgeon and is currently a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, where he has multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dr. Wilson is an active researcher, and has been widely published on topics including military trauma and trauma surgical outcomes. He is interested in the association between race and socioeconomic status on trauma-related health outcomes. He currently serves as Deputy Director at the University of Chicago's trauma center. 

Dr. Donell Barnett is a clinical psychologist with a personal mission of improving communities. An Iraq and Afghanistan combat veteran, he was an active duty Army Officer, rising from an enlisted man to the rank of Major. He currently serves is the US Army Reserves. 

Some of his previous assignments include Director of HIV Prevention programs, Adjunct Professor of Psychology, Behavioral Health Clinic Director, and Chief of Field Investigations and Program Evaluation for the US Army Public Health Center. 

He has published his work in scholarly journals and popular press outlets as well as authored/coauthored technical reports, policy papers, and presented at national conferences. 

Dr. Barnett is an active member of the American Psychological Association and serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Black Psychologists. His research and practice areas include systems - level programs to improve the health and well-being of communities, in particular, those communities left out of economic and social growth. 

Will Beiersdorf was born and raised in Chicago, is married to Mary Beth and has three boys. Will moved to Arlington Heights in 1994, and is active in many civic and community organizations and is the founder of Salute, Inc.. Will has an Accounting Degree from DePaul University, and a Masters in Public Administration from Troy University. Will served in the Illinois Army National Guard and US Naval Reserves, and was deployed for operations Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom. Will has worked in the public accounting and healthcare industries, and currently is the Executive Director for the Road Home Program - the National Center for Veterans and their Families at Rush University Medical Center.

Brigadier General (Ret.) Dr. Steven Curda formerly served on the Governor’s Cabinet as the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA). He was responsible for establishing long term strategic goals for the future of the IDVA and provided oversight of four veteran homes caring for over 900 Veterans and coordinated over 80 veteran service offices throughout the state of Illinois.

​Dr. Curda served in the US military for over 30 years in active duty, Guard and Reserve positions. He commanded units at every echelon, from platoon, company, battalion, brigade and two general officer level commands. He is an Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) veteran. His numerous awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal.

Dr. Curda is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Curda serves as an Associate Professor in the National College of Education at National Louis University and as Senior Advisor to the President on Student Veteran programs. He has previously held faculty positions at Florida State University, the University of Toledo, and the University of West Florida as a professor of Instructional Technology.

René Dunn is the Assistant Director of Human Resources at the Chicago Police Department, directing management level staff in developing programs and marketing strategies designed to improve diversity within the Chicago Police Department.

Over the years, René consistently pursued challenging positions; such as serving as the Executive Director of the Orpheum Children's Science Museum (Champaign, IL); a Mental Health Specialist in the Cook County Jail’s psychiatric acute unit, and the Lead Counselor for the Lincoln’s Challenge Military Youth Academy. 

In 2007, René was selected as the Assistant to the Chief of Police for Community Services & Public Information Officer (Spokeswoman) for the Champaign Police Department, where she led the agency’s media relations, outreach, and recruitment efforts. 

Over the years, René has served on various boards including the East Central Illinois Workforce Development Board, the Retired Senior and Volunteer Program (RSVP) and the Illinois Lincoln’s Challenge Academy State Advisory Board.

René is a veteran of the Army, where she served 11 years and  held the rank of Staff Sergeant. During her term of enlistment, René received multiple awards as she led both a platoon and detachment of soldiers in the 133rdSignal Battalion and 633rd Personnel Detachment. René also facilitated the recruitment efforts for the ILARNG and served as an Instructor for the Basic Non-commissioned Officer Leadership Course (BNOC) as well as a Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) Warfare Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO).
 

René holds a Master’s degree in Public Safety and Law Enforcement Leadership from the University of St. Thomas and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois. In her spare time, René provides media relations consulting services to law enforcement agencies and political candidates. 

Brigadier General (Ret.) Roger Machut is a Senior Civil Engineering Expert for Solution Engineering Group.  He consults on all aspects of roadway design, bituminous and concrete paving design, runway pavement design, stormwater management, utility design, site development, and surface and groundwater flooding.

Mr. Machut has over 30 years of practical professional experience in civil engineering, in both design and construction applications. Combined with decades of holding positions of leadership in various organizations, he has developed a unique ability to express the complex in ways understandable to individual audiences, allow each group to take action or make a decision. As a solution creator, he equally identifies root causes of failures, inefficient methodologies, and unsustainable construction. Adding to his total professional credentials is the Mr. Machut’s 33 years of service in the United States Marine Corps, from which he retired as a Brigadier General.

In addition to his extensive career in professional engineering design and construction projects for private, municipal, state, county, federal and industrial clients; Mr. Machut has an equally extensive career delivering civil engineering investigative projects, reports, and testimony.  Examples include an examination, findings, and opinion of the causation of design and maintenance of concrete and bituminous pavement runways as contributing factors in plane crashes, the explosive force on a reinforced concrete floor due to high temperature forging ovens, building basement flooding events, and slip and fall injuries.

Leon Mangum is currently an active member in Veteran community via, Allen J Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Foundation and the Utilities Workers Military Assistance Program (UMAP). Mr. Mangum is the past Director of the, Allen J Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Assistance Program, which provided support to Veterans during hardship leading towards homelessness. During his 3.5 years as Director, the program granted over $400,000.00 nationwide to Veterans for rental assistance, utility bills, sustenance, and healthcare. His leadership also facilitated career development and continuing education for Veterans and their children. 

During Mr. Mangum’s time of service, he primarily served as a Medic in the U.S. Army; he also held two additional medical military occupational specialties. Additionally, his time of service met with the completion of the active duty internship program, Operation Warfighter, which afforded him positions with The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center as a Programs Analyst, later he received an appointment as the Medical Center’s Health Science Specialist. 

Mr. Mangum studied Biological Sciences at Park University in Parkville Missouri. He holds degrees in Nutrition and Health Sciences, he is also a credentialed Veterans Service Officer (VSO). Mr. Mangum enjoys a healthy lifestyle and encourages the same for all Veterans and their families and others around him. He is the recipient of the, prestigious, Chicago Defender’s “Men of Excellence Award” and the, Utilities Workers Military Assistance Program’s “Excellence in Advocacy Award”. Mr. Mangum is a big fan of service towards others. He encourages all men and women to find a way each day to advance the lives of Veterans experiencing misfortune in their quest to move forward for themselves and their families.

Michael J. Marqua was born in Rockford Illinois and joined the United States Marine Corps after high school. He served as infantry support in the Armored Tank support division and deployed in February of 2001. 

Mike graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Justice Administration, and a minor in Sociology. Mike also completed an internship with the Rockford Police Department.

Mike formerly worked with the Cook County Sheriff's from 2009 to 2012, as a correctional officer in Divisions 9, 11, and the county's boot camp program. Mike joined the Chicago Police in 2012, serving on Englewood's robbery mission team (tact), saturation, and area bike teams. Mike is a 13x Ironman triathlon finisher and Captain of the Chicago Police's triathlon team. 

Rick Passarelli enlisted in the United States Navy in 1982, where he was deployed for 2 tours of active duty 1982-1985, and 2 years active reserve duty 1985-87. During his first 2 deployments, he served in support of combat theater of operations Beirut Lebanon, along with his western pacific deployments. Some of the awards Rick received are.  Humanitarian Service Medal, Navy Battle “E” Ribbon, Navy Sea Service Deployment ribbon with silver star 2nd award. Rick was awarded certificate of recognition from Secretary of Defense for promoting peace and stability for this nation. In 2015 Rick was awarded the first ever Easter Seals Donnie Dixon award for enabling our veterans to succeed where they live in the veteran’s community by Colonel David Sutherland and Lt. Commander Kim Mitchell. Rick has two distinguished United States Flag designations, one Presented by under Secretary of Labor The honorable Jane Oates and one from the Pentagon presented by Assistant Secretary of defense Mr. Fred Drummond. He was awarded the Helmets to Hardhats Veterans in Excellence Award By decorated US Vietnam Army Veteran, SGT President Michael Yaeger and the Teamsters Veteran achievement award by teamster National President James Hoffa. And after his enlistment and Honorable Discharge Rick started his career with Peoples Gas where he recently retired with 32 years of service as Business Manager and National Executive Board member. During Ricks tenure at Peoples Gas and the UWUA he founded the UMAP program in 2011 in partnership with Peoples Gas Executive Team Vice President John Klecynski and Director Sal Arana. Rick most recently joined the UWUA National staff and now holds the position of UWUA National Director Of Veterans affairs and organizing Under National President Michael Langford for the UWUA. Rick is a committee member for veterans in energy Washington D.C, and sits on the committee for veterans in work force innovation Washington D.C. as well as the AFL-CIO National Veterans council in Washington D.C. Rick is Married to his Highschool sweetheart Lynn for 37 years. He as 2 Married sons Dan and Nick and 4 grandchildren Knox.Rocco,Peyton and Jax.

Pat Scanlan has over 22-years in financial services. Pat has demonstrated a dedication to providing personalized service with integrity, striving to live and work to a higher standard every day. He has a knack for truly listening to his clients and tailoring a financial solution to their unique situation, with a focus on serving business owners, families, and veterans. 

His decades of experience in institutional equity, include serving as a senior managing director at Bear Stearns, executive director at J.P. Morgan, and as branch manager at Macquarie Capital, where he focused on business development.  He also worked at Boeing as a shop-floor supervisor and then as a financial analyst. In July 2018, he joined Alex. Brown, a division of Raymond James.

Pat earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he was an Army football letterman, being awarded “Most Courageous Athlete.”  A Cold War veteran, Pat served on the Czech border in Germany. He is both Airborne and Ranger qualified.

In addition to his service to the country, Pat continues to serve in his community.  As a veteran, he is an advisor for the University of Chicago-Office for Military Affiliated Communities (OMAC), a mentor for the USO Pathfinder Program, and a member of the American Legion. Pat also plays an integral part of the Berwyn Chamber of Commerce, and a Township School charity leader.

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Pat currently lives in Oak Park, where he enjoys restoring his 1913 home and his 1964 Pontiac GTO classic car. Other hobbies include reading U.S. history and presidential biographies, and fly-fishing. He is also a dedicated father of two girls, Tate and Geraldine.

Raymond James is not affiliated with any organizations mentioned.

Rogelio Villa was born and raised in Chicago's Little Village community. For the last 14 years, he has worked for the City Colleges of Chicago as Veteran Affairs Certifying Official. 

Rogelio has a vast amount of work and volunteer experience. A majority of this work has been in the public service and non-profit sector. Rogelio has held the position of Auxiliary Officer in the Berwyn Police department, as an Assistant Director for a nonprofit school age day program, and has worked for Universidad Popular - a community organization that provides literacy and ESL courses.

Rogelio  joined the Illinois Army National Guard and served for a total of 6 years. In support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008. He served as a 240 B gunner and was part of an element that conducted over 300 missions. These missions included mounted and dismounted patrols part of QRF (Quick Reactionary Force) Battalion as well as platoon CONOPS ( Concept of Operations), PSD ( Personal Security Detail) for Bayonet 6, security for EOD (Explosive Ordinance Demolitions), and as CIED ( Counter Improved Explosive Devices).

Rogelio currently volunteers with Leave No Veteran Behind - providing outreach to community organizations within poverty-stricken areas, working with them to asses resiliency, co-facilitating training opportunities for selected nonprofits in Emergency Response Team (CERT), and assisting with its food pantry.

He also volunteers as the 2nd Platoon Leader for The Mission Continues, a team member for Green Card Veterans, a mentor with the YMCA's Urban Warriors Youth Program, and volunteered with Congressman Gutierrez's Family Defender program for educating the community on the application process to qualify for expanded DACA or DAPA. Rogelio holds a Bachelor of Arts from Northeastern Illinois in Multi-interdisciplinary studies. 

Colonel (Ret.) Sam Whitehurst served over 29 years in the U.S. Army in multiple command and staff positions. Upon graduation from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1990 and served in various locations both outside and within the U.S., culminating in his recent retirement from the Army. His Army career spanned training deployments to Japan and Thailand, an operational deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina, two combat deployments to Afghanistan, and three combat deployments to Iraq. Highlights of his career included commanding a brigade combat team in Afghanistan and serving as the chief of staff for the 18th Airborne Corps in Iraq. 

His civilian and military education includes UNC-Chapel Hill, Louisiana State University, U.S. Army Airborne and Ranger School, Command & General Staff College, School of Advanced Military Studies, and National War College.

He now serves as the Vice President for the Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services; a non-profit that supports and serves military members, veterans, and their families. 

He has been married to the former Sallie Ann Boyd for 28 years and they have four children; Olivia, Audrey, Matt, and Ben.