Ingenuity welcomes six Board members

CHICAGO – Ingenuity has welcomed six exceptional leaders to its Board of Directors. Experts from across various industries, including nonprofit management, philanthropy, business, real estate, and education research, Ingenuity’s newest Board members bring a broad range of experiences to our efforts to advance arts education access in Chicago Public Schools.

Ingenuity has appointed:

• Euler Bropleh, Founder and Managing Director of Vested World: A Liberia native educated in the U.S. and abroad who has traveled extensively throughout Africa, Asia and Europe, Euler understands firsthand how access to capital has the potential to transform the developing world and improve the lives of all people. As an attorney, he specialized in corporate transactions with leading law firms Latham & Watkins and Vedder Price, representing Fortune 100 companies, venture capital and private equity firms and emerging businesses worldwide. As an angel investor, he’s helped fund several early stage businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa, developing an acute understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with early stage investing in emerging markets.
• Kimberly Dowdell, Director of Business Development at HOK: Kimberly is a licensed architect and frequent speaker on the topic of the future of architecture. She is currently a Principal in the Chicago studio of HOK, as well as the 2019-2020 national president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), working closely with her board of directors and staff to increase opportunities for women and people of color to gain more equitable access to the profession. Kimberly’s professional aspirations are rooted in her upbringing in Detroit, where she was initially driven to use architecture as a tool to revitalize cities. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture at Cornell University and her Master of Public Administration from Harvard University. Her professional experience has spanned from architecture to government and teaching to real estate development.
• Darcy Evon, Chief Executive Officer, the Village Chicago: Darcy comes to Ingenuity with years of non-profit management experience, including leadership roles at public and private universities, libraries, medical, technology, non-profit organizations and media companies. Most recently, Darcy was Chief Development Officer for the Chicago Public Library Foundation, where she led the organization to record-breaking engagement and community awareness milestones. Darcy is active in Chicago’s corporate and civic communities and is a member of the Economic Club, Executives Club, Chicago Innovation Advisory Board, and a variety of cultural and business organizations. In her spare time, she is an avid history buff and author who published an illustrated history of jewelry and metalwork entrepreneurs during the Chicago Arts and Crafts movement.
• Anne Kelly, PhD, Project Consultant: Anne works as a consultant to educational non-profits, with project interests in teacher learning, early childhood settings, and/or strategic planning. Recently, Anne served as a project consultant for the Erikson Institute to help expand professional development opportunities for early childhood educators in the areas of math, literacy, technology, and social emotional learning. Anne also spent over ten years at the Quaker Oats Company (now a Pepsico subsidiary) as brand manager for various established and new food/beverage products as well as a planning analyst for European businesses. She has also served on the boards of the Winnetka Public Schools, North Shore Country Day School, and Family Action Network. Anne received a BA with honors from Mount Holyoke College, a MBA from Northwestern University, and a PhD in Educational Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
• Desiree F. Moore, Partner and Director of Learning & Professional Development at K&L Gates LLP: Desiree is a litigation partner and a founding member of the firm’s Digital Crisis Planning & Response (DCPR) client solution. She counsels corporations, educational institutions, and high-profile individuals in proactively planning for and effectively managing digital crises of varying magnitudes. In this capacity, Desiree also regularly helps clients proactively identify and manage the risks associated with social media use. Desiree is actively involved in the firm-wide Women in the Profession group and spearheads the Women’s Mastermind program, which supports the business development goals of women associates and partners. She is also the firm’s Director of Professional Development, where she oversees the implementation of innovative training and other programming for attorneys and staff across the firm.
• Chris Steadley, Managing Partner at Gartner: At Gartner, Chris is responsible for leading and guiding the attraction and retention of new clients and managing staffing and professional development of consultants in the Midwest. Prior to joining Gartner in 2012, Chris held consulting and marketing roles at PwC, Deloitte, Oracle and Ingersoll Rand. Chris brings a philanthropic spirit and mindset to the Chicago community. In 2008, Chris served with the Peace Corps in Mexico, where he worked to raise funds and build capacity for a school in Jurica. Chris also volunteered as a student counselor with the Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund in Washington, DC from 2006-2008. He remains passionate about using his time, skills and talents to uplift individuals and communities, particularly in the area of education.

“We are thrilled to have Euler, Kimberly, Darcy, Anne, Desiree and Chris join the Ingenuity Board during a pivotal time for the organization,” said Paul Sznewajs, Executive Director at Ingenuity. “Each leader brings a unique set of experiences and skills that will help us address the ever-evolving needs of Chicago’s arts education sector and, ultimately, help us ensure that every student, in every grade, in every CPS school has access to a high-quality arts education.”

See the full Ingenuity Board

About Ingenuity
Ingenuity is a backbone arts education 501(c)(3) with core programs in data, advocacy, grant-making, and professional learning. The organization’s collective-impact approach to arts advocacy drives partnerships, insights, and investments in the arts for 350,000 students in Chicago Public Schools. A nationally-recognized arts advocacy leader, Ingenuity has advanced the most progress in CPS arts education in 40 years. Learn more at ingenuity-inc.org