The Prairie Landscape

The Illinois Humanities Council Welcomes New Staff Member & Announces Promotions of Program Staff

02/14/2002

CHICAGO - The Illinois Humanities Council [IHC] is pleased to announce the appointment of Luis F. Romero as Program Officer. As a member of the program staff, Mr. Romero will develop, implement, and manage IHC programs and services and will increase outreach to additional educational and community groups.
Mr. Romero earned his B.A. Summa Cum Laude in Philosophy, Literature, and Film from Boston University and his M.F.A. from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has a wealth of experience in the humanities and the non-profit sector, as well as in the areas of project management, public relations, and communications. Before joining the IHC, Mr. Romero served as Project Director for the Puerto Rico Humanities Council. Mr. Romero has also worked as a Consultant for the Juan Domingo en Accion in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; as a Staff Writer for the Office of the Governor-Communications Department, San Juan, Puerto Rico; and, in the editing room of the El Nuevo Dia Newspaper, in Catano, Puerto Rico.
The IHC is also pleased to announce the promotion of Angel Ysaguirre to Director of Programs and the promotion of Clark D. Halker to Senior Program Officer. Mr. Ysaguirre received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Psychology from Stetson University, DeLand, Florida and his Master of Arts Degree in Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Donors Forum of Chicago and the Next Theatre in Evanston. Before joining the IHC, Mr. Ysaguirre was Program Associate at the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation, reviewing grants applications in the areas of homelessness, employment, youth development, and developmental disabilities. He has been an instructor at the Newberry Library, teaching seminars on Southern literature and other related topics since March 1997. Mr. Ysaguirre also served as Assistant Director of Admission at Whittier College, California.
Dr.Halker earned a B.A. from the College of Idaho and an M.A. and Ph.D. in American History from the University of Minnesota. He has taught history at The College of Idaho, Albion College, and North Central College. He has also lectured and published widely on labor history and popular music, including For Democracy, Workers, and God: Labor Song-Poems and Labor Protest, 1865-1895 (University of Illinois, 1991). In addition to a number of grants and awards, he received fellowships from the University of Minnesota and the Newberry Library. He is an active songwriter and performer with several recordings and extensive touring in the U.S., Canada, and Germany to his credit.
For further information about the IHC, please contact us at 312.422.5585 extension 233 or visit our website at http://www.prairie.org.

D A R E T O K N O W
# # #