Jeannette Tamayo is the Associate Vice President for Workforce Development and Community Engagement Office of the Vice-President for Economic Development and Innovation at the University of Illinois System, which includes the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago, and University of Illinois Springfield. She joined the University of Illinois System to advise on inclusive economic development, equitable workforce development, and economic resiliency and recovery. She serves as the Director of the Illinois Innovation Network, a structured collaborative of the state’s twelve public universities and their partners to provide economic development and technical support to the state. She also oversees the Illinois Broadband Lab, a partnership with the Illinois Office of Broadband to bring support and align state and local community broadband and digital literacy initiatives and the EnergySense Resilience Center that addresses energy conservation and resiliency. Jeannette also co-leads the IIN Education and Workforce Development Committee to develop new workforce industry-focused programs. Before joining the University System, she oversaw federal economic development funding for initiatives in a six-state region (Region V), including programs for innovation, economic and disaster resiliency, workforce training, entrepreneurship, commercialization, technology-led economic development, capacity-building, strategic planning, and construction programs. Jeannette was elected Chair of the Chicago Federal Executive Board and was recognized as the national Chair of the Year by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for her leadership. Before joining the U.S. Department of Commerce, Jeannette previously held both attorney and program leadership roles as an executive or in management at state agencies and non-profit organizations addressing economic and community issues. Jeannette brings a unique federal, state, local, and community perspective to serving Illinois’ diverse residents equitably while providing a stellar talent pipeline to grow its economy. Jeannette holds a Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois Chicago.