Verneé Green has over 23 years of experience in the education and nonprofit sectors in Chicago. She most recently served as Mikva’s Chief Program Officer, where she was a member of the leadership team, overseeing all of Mikva’s school-based and direct service youth programs.
Prior to coming to Mikva, she served for four years as Director of Partnerships & Initiatives for the Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) where she managed school support initiatives for all 31 of AUSL schools. In that capacity, Verneé also served as the Local Program Director for Turnaround Arts: Chicago, a national program out of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She taught middle school social studies in CPS and was a counselor at two charter high schools.
Verneé holds a Bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration. She is in Leadership Greater Chicago’s Signature Fellows class of 2020 and was in the Allstate Foundation’s Executive Leadership Program’s Class of 2019. Verneé currently serves on the National Equity in Civics Steering Committee, is Chair of the Curriculum and Evaluation working group, and participates in the University of Chicago Consortium Education Steering Committee.
“I’m honored to be selected as Mikva IL’s Executive Director and will be proud to build on the reputation that previous leaders have built as well as help lead the organization to new depths. I have spent the past 20 years working in education in Chicago and am committed to equity and access for young people in underserved communities, and to me, there is no more effective organization than Mikva Challenge to create opportunities for youth to elevate the issues that are important to them and their community,” states Verneé.
Verneé’s hiring was the result of an extensive regional search conducted by KLB Consulting, Mikva staff and alumni, and our Board of Directors, and I want to thank all involved for their time and commitment to shepherding Mikva Challenge IL through this transition.
With her vision, enthusiasm and an unconditional commitment and dedication to the youth that Mikva Challenge serves, Verneé is the right person to lead Mikva Challenge Illinois as we deepen our mission and impact. Verneé will officially take on her new role on March 2. But in the meantime, please join me in congratulating and welcoming Verneé Green as Mikva Challenge IL’s new Executive Director.
