The Three Directors Will Join the Board in Providing Insight and Expertise to Guide the Education Nonprofit
January 16, 2025
CHICAGO — The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund) today announced that Sheri Hawkins of Northern Trust, Lauren Patnaude of BDT & MSD Partners, and Mark Rodriguez of the Lohengrin Foundation have joined other business, civic, and philanthropic leaders on its Board of Directors.
All three bring unique perspectives and experiences to The Fund’s Board that will advance its mission of ensuring every Chicago public school has a high-quality principal. As an advocate for education, Hawkins is deeply interested in The Fund’s work and will continue the organization’s longstanding relationship with Northern Trust, previously represented by Board member Kim Evans. As a Partner at BDT & MSD, Patnaude brings a strategic lens to supporting The Fund’s work and a passion for improving educational outcomes. Rodriguez’s experience as the executive director of the Lohengrin Foundation brings deep experience and knowledge of the Chicago education and nonprofit sectors that will support The Fund’s work in the broader space. Patnaude and Rodriguez also both have experience serving on The Fund’s Leadership Council that they will leverage in their new roles.
“We are incredibly proud and excited to welcome Lauren, Mark, and Sheri to our Board of Directors,” President and CEO Dr. Heather Anichini said. “They are all deeply committed to our mission, and we look forward to their perspectives and expertise as we continue to make Chicago the best city in the country to lead a public school.”
The Fund’s Board, which now comprises 23 members, is deeply involved at every stage of the organization’s work — from developing the programs it provides for school leaders to the data it collects and analyzes to the education policy issues with which it engages. Fund Directors put their time and resources into the belief that strategic investments can positively impact outcomes for students in Chicago’s public schools.
Sheri Hawkins is executive vice president and head of Investment Platform Services with Northern Trust Asset Management. She is responsible for investment governance and leads four of the firm’s investment teams, including its Sustainable Investing and Stewardship efforts. Hawkins has also served as global head of product and asset management chief financial officer. Sheri is a CFA® charterholder, received a B.B.A in finance from the University of Notre Dame and an M.S. in financial markets and trading from Illinois Institute of Technology’s Stuart School of Business.
“As a proud product of Chicago Public Schools elementary education, I am both humbled and excited to serve on The Chicago Public Education Fund’s Board,” said Hawkins. “The Fund’s unwavering commitment to investing in the talented educators who lead our schools is essential to unlocking brighter futures for all Chicago students, and I look forward to contributing to this vital work.”
Lauren Patnaude is a partner at BDT & MSD, responsible for the execution of both investments and advisory assignments. Her previous experience includes corporate strategy at The Boston Consulting Group and investment banking at Goldman Sachs, and she began her career at UBS. Patnaude is a director of Balcan Innovations, a Board member of the Pulitzer Center and the Yale College Alumni Fund, and a member of the Steering Committee for the Chicago chapter of WiMA, a national network for women in M&A. Lauren received a B.A. in economics and history from Yale University and an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
“I am honored to support The Chicago Public Education Fund and its important work in enhancing educational outcomes in Chicago’s public schools through investing in strong leadership,” said Patnaude. “The Fund’s focus on leadership has an incredible amplifying effect on improving student outcomes across the city, and I look forward to partnering with this impressive Board to continue advancing this mission.”
Mark Rodriguez serves as the CEO of the Lohengrin Foundation. He leads the Foundation’s overall grantmaking strategy and directly guides its efforts to support School Leadership and Learning funding initiatives in Chicago and Boston. Prior to this role, he served as the chief operating officer for Heartland Alliance International. Earlier in his career, Mark was also instrumental in supporting the launch and development of the New Leaders principal fellowship program in Chicago and nationally. Mark graduated from Roosevelt University with a Bachelor of Arts in communications and holds advanced certifications in philanthropy management from Loyola University, nonprofit management and human resources from Roosevelt University, and education and literacy best practices from National Louis University.
“I’m delighted to join the Board of The Chicago Public Education Fund and deepen our focus on supporting school leaders to strengthen academic outcomes for all students,” Rodriguez said. “The Fund’s impactful history, use of data, and collaborative approach to supporting and strengthening school leaders is impressive and a guiding light to ensuring every Chicago student can reach high levels of academic and personal success.”
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About The Chicago Public Education Fund
The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves Chicago’s public schools by investing in the talented educators who lead them. The Fund is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, underscoring its enduring commitment to collaborating with partners across Chicago’s education sector to redefine school leadership in the city.
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