Posse Chicago Celebrates 25 Years of Scholar Success
Posse Chicago is proud to mark its 25th anniversary, reflecting on a legacy of community support and transformational leadership. Since its founding, local teachers, counselors, organizations, companies, and civic leaders have helped Posse Scholars thrive.
Founding board chair Tim Ubben, a DePauw University graduate and trustee, led the initiative to bring Posse to Chicago. He rallied five benefactors to establish Posse Chicago’s founding fund. The site launched in 2000 with DePauw University, Denison University and Carleton College as its first partner institutions. Ubben, who passed away in 2021, remains a lasting figure in Posse history as one of the foundation’s most generous and committed supporters.
Since becoming Posse’s third site, Chicago has selected more than 2,000 Scholars—including # STEM Scholars—from over # nominees. In total, Scholars from the site have earned $350 million in merit-based scholarships from Posse partner colleges and universities.
Posse Chicago now boasts an alumni network of more than 1,300 leaders who are having an impact worldwide.
Connecticut College alumna Chakena Perry is a senior policy advocate for environmental health at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Appointed in 2022 by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Perry now serves as one of two commissioners on the board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. She has received several honors, including Posse’s Ainslie Alumni Achievement Award and the WE Will “Young Woman of the Year” award.
Chakena says community was central to her Posse experience. Despite diverse backgrounds among her Posse peers, she felt supported and challenged in equal measure.
My Posse challenged me to be a better friend and ally and to not assume what people need but to ask. I learned the value of empathy.
Conn College Alum Chakena Perry.
“We challenged ideas but were also open to other perspectives and experiences,” she said. “They challenged me to be a better friend and ally and to not assume what people need but to ask. I learned the value of empathy.”
Chakena credits mentor Ron Flores with helping create reflective and intentional spaces, which she says were key to her persistence. “There were always moments of laughter and joy, even in deeper moments.”
She remains actively engaged with Posse, serving on the Posse Chicago Leadership Council and often volunteering her time.
“I raise my hand to be a career coach and participate in panels,” she said. “I know there is at least one Scholar in the room who needs to know that all their life experiences have prepared them for this moment—a reminder that everything is going to be OK.”
Many local officials, such as Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson, have backed and recognized the power of Posse and the leadership Posse Scholars and alumni bring to the city of Chicago and state of Illinois.
“Posse Chicago has been transforming lives for 25 years. The scholars who go through the program excel in the classroom and are leaders in their schools and neighborhoods. They then take their gifts to top colleges and universities across the country to show what it means to lead with purpose and intention.
As an educator, I know how talented Chicago students are. They were in my classes and stepped up as leaders, and years later, I have no doubt they’re still making an impact in their own unique ways. As Mayor, I am committed to providing all students with a world-class education because our students deserve the resources and investments to thrive in and out of the classroom.
I am proud to celebrate Posse Chicago because you are investing in our future leaders who will challenge the world as it is and work to make it better.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
I am proud to celebrate Posse Chicago because you are investing in our future leaders who will challenge the world as it is and work to make it better. I am excited for the next generation of leaders and the impact they will make!”
Support from the advisory board, leadership council, and institutional partners has been key to Posse Chicago’s longevity and growth in one of the nation’s largest cities.
Julie Parsons, chair of the advisory board, joined in 2014 and assumed the chair position in 2022. A Purdue University alumna and recently retired chief operating officer of personal property-liability at Allstate Insurance Company, Parsons has received accolades including Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40,” the Anti-Defamation League’s Rising Star Award, and Diversity MBA’s Top 100 under 50 Executive Leaders.
Her leadership plays a key role in Posse’s mission to foster the next generation of leaders. "Posse creates a powerful ripple effect,” she shares. “When you consider the countless lives Posse Scholars will impact over the course of their careers—and the many volunteers, university and college partners, and career partners who are changed through their experiences with Posse—the potential for positive change is extraordinary and tremendous.”
Denison University alum Andy Nguyen, head of insights and strategy for Google’s North American Large Customer Sales unit, serves as chair of the Posse Chicago Leadership Council. He was instrumental in launching the Posse National Alumni Leadership Council (PNAAC), which offers mid-career alumni the opportunity to serve on local advisory boards.
“Posse has been a major portion of my life for 24 years. Posse gave me a college education, introduced me to my mentor, Bob Steiner, and shaped my career at Google,” Nguyen said. “I’m proud of the 1,000-plus Chicago alumni who have graduated and returned to the city to make a difference.” Over the past 25 years, Posse Chicago has hosted numerous Scholar selection and celebration events, including DAP and the annual Awards Ceremony.
To commemorate the milestone, Posse Chicago will host a special Power of 10 celebration on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at the Geraghty. The event will honor the city’s vibrant community of Scholars and alumni who continue to lead and inspire across sectors.
