Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Contact
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Arab Radio Podcast intro
    • Radio Baladi Detroit
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Toggle search form
  • Al-Haq
    War crimes probe urged against two Israeli snipers who intentionally killed civilian women, children Christian & Muslim
  • CAIR Executive Director and co-founder Nihad Awad
    CAIR Says Israel Turns Gaza into ‘Human Slaughterhouse’ as Killing of Civilians Continues Arab World
  • photo credit author Nehemia Gershuni-Aylho www.NGPhoto.biz and Wikipedia
    Emergency Court Motions to Stop Elbit Drone Parts Shipment via Frankfurt Airport  Activism
  • American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh murdered by Israeli soldiers May 11, 2022
    Documentary names soldier it says killed Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022 American Arabs
  • Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ
    Jordan bans 12 news sites for ‘spreading media poison’ following corruption report Arab World
  • CAIR Logo. Council on American Islamic Relations
    CAIR Condemns MIT for banning Class President from Graduation Ceremony over Anti-Genocide speech Activism
  • ADC creates emergency fund to defend people who are being punished for expressing views on the American-sanction violence by Israel in the Gaza Strip. Photo courtesy of ADC
    ADC Condemns ADL, Rep. Torres’ Defamation of Dr. Lara Sheehi Activism
  • UN Special Committee on Israeli practices in occupied territories warns of a second Nakba  Arab World
  • Arab American community liaison Hassan Nijem, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta at the Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by Pappas’s office.
    Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month Activism
  • 04-28-25 Pappas Arab Heritage Month
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders American Arabs
  • Stuffed Grape Leaves. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    A recipe on how to make Stuffed Grape Leaves with lamb, ox tail and rice American Arabs
  • Andrew Boutros, interim US Attorney Northern District of Illinois. Photo courtesy of the US Attorney's Office
    Andrew S. Boutros Takes Oath of Office as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois American Arabs
  • Israeli massacres of Palestinian civilians March 18 2025
    Palestinians demand investigation of Israeli war crimes in Gaza Strip Arab World
  • Illinois Muslim Action Day April 9 2025
    Illinois Muslim Action Day Policies at April 9 Statehouse News Conference American Arabs
  • Investigation demanded in March 23 massacre of 15 first responders by Israel's military in Rafah
    Investigation demanded into Israel slaughter of First Responder in Rafah on March 23, 2025 Arab World
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Pritzker makes more appointments, none are Arab American

Posted on July 11, 2022July 11, 2022 By rayhanania 2 Comments on Pritzker makes more appointments, none are Arab American
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Pritzker makes more appointments, none are Arab American

Gov. Pritzker Announces Ten Appointments to Boards and Commissions and Senior Executive Positions. Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration

The following are appoints to the State’s Boards and Commissions made this week (July 11, 2022) by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. None are Arab.
Read the column on Pritzker’s failure to include Arab Americans in his administration by clicking here.
ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Megha Lakhchaura will serve as the Electric Vehicle Coordinator at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.* Lakhchaura, prior to joining the Agency, worked for EVBox, Inc. as the Director and Head of Policy, North America from 2018 to 2022. She previously served as Policy Director for Sunrun, Inc., a rooftop solar and battery storage provider, and as a Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst for the California Public Utilities Commission assisting in reliability and renewable generation programs. Megha received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Isabella Thoburn College, a Master in Business Administration from the Symbiosis Center for Management and Human Resources Development, and Master in Public Policy from UCLA.
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Alyssa Williams-Schafer will serve as the Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections.* Williams-Schafer has served as the Chief of Programs and Support Services at the Illinois Department of Corrections since 2019. She started with the Illinois Department of Corrections in 2001 and has also served as Assistant to the Chief of Programs, Coordinator for Sex Offender Services, and as a Warden managing a maximum-security adult female correctional facility. Alyssa is a member of the Association for Women Executives in Corrections and the American Correctional Association. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Bradley University and a Master of Psychology from Chapman University.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE MERIT BOARD
Tim Touhy will serve as a Member of the Illinois State Police Merit Board.* Touhy currently serves as the Communications Director for Friends of the Chicago River overseeing all public relations activities. He worked as an independent public relations consultant for over a decade and has senior communications positions at Hawthorne Strategy Group, Navistar International Corporation, Hill & Knowlton Strategies, and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He serves as a member the Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission and is a volunteer at Kolbe House. Touhy received a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Loyola University Chicago.
ILLINOIS TORTURE AND RELIEF COMMISSION
Erica Zunkel will serve as a Member of the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission.* Zunkel has served as a Clinical Professor of Law at the University of Chicago teaching federal criminal law, cases litigation, and supervising students since 2012. Previously she worked as a Trial Attorney for the Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. and as a Judicial Law Clerk in the Chambers of US District Judge Martha Vazquez. Erica is a member of both the Illinois and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Zunkel received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University and a Juris Doctorate from University California-Berkley School of Law.
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Brandon Ragle will serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology.* Ragle has served as Chief of Enterprise Applications at Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology since 2019. Prior to that he was Deputy Chief of Enterprise Applications and has also worked for the Illinois Department of Insurance for 14 years an Application Manager and Software Developer. Ragle received a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Greenville College and Master of Business Administration from Benedictine University.
GUARDIANSHIP AND ADVOCACY COMMISSION
Donald Dew will continue to serve as a Member of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission.* Dew has served as Executive Director of Habilitative Systems, Inc., since 1990 and has worked there since 1984. He is also currently Adjunct Faculty – Strategic Planning at Lewis University. Dew has served on the Commission since 2020. He also serves as Chair of the Chicago HIV Prevention Adolescent Mental Health Project and has been a member of the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities Board of Directors, Lewis University Board of Trustees, UIC Department of Health and Disability Advisory Board, Behavioral Health Consortium of Illinois, the African American Family Commission, and numerous other organizations. Dew received a Bachelor of Social Work from Lewis University and a Master of Social Work from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
Ann McIntyre will serve as the Inspector General of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.* McIntyre has served in the Office of the Inspector General at DCFS for 27 years, most recently as the Chief Legal Counsel. From 2001-2019 managed investigations and analyzed policies and procedures as Public Service Administrator. Ann is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Association of Inspectors General, and has served on the DCFS Conflict of Interest Committee and the St. Giles School Board. She received a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame and went to obtain a Juris Doctorate cum laude and Master of Arts in Social work from Loyola University Chicago.
ILLINOIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION AUTHORITY
Vickii Coffey, Ph.D. will serve as a Member of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.* Coffey has served as an Assistant Professor at Governors State University in the Social Work Department since 2013. Previously she was an Instructor and Graduate Teaching Assistant and the University of Illinois at Chicago in the Department of Criminology, Law & Justice. Coffey has worked as the Executive Director of Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network and at Goodwill Industries of Metropolitan Chicago. She has served on numerous boards at Governors State University and within the Chicago community and is a member of the Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health. Coffey earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science, a Master of Social Work Administration, and a Ph.D. in Criminology, Law and Justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
ILLINOIS STATE MUSEUM BOARD
Chris Pappan will serve as a Member of the Illinois State Museum Board.* Pappan is an Osage, Kaw, Cheyenne River Lakota Sioux artist. His art is based on the Plains Native art tradition known as Ledger Art and is a nationally recognized painter and artist. Chris’ work is included in collections at numerous institutions including the Field Museum of Natural History; The Newberry Library, the National Museum of the American Indian; The North American Native Museum (Geneva, Switzerland); and Missoula Art Museum, among others. He recently had a two-year exhibition in Drawing on Tradition at the Field Museum and was previously the Director of Operations at Atlas Galleries from 2000-2018. Pappan received a degree in Fine Arts from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Sante Fe, New Mexico.
MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS FINANCE AUTHORTY
Ameya Pawar will serve as a Member of the Illinois Finance Authority.* Pawar is a Senior Advisor and Chicago Director for the First Midwest Group, a Senior Advisor with the Academy Group, and a Special Advisor and Lecturer and University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab and Crown School. He recently spent three years working on public finance issues as a Leadership in Government Fellow with Open Society Foundations and is a Senior Fellow with Economic Security Project. Ameya served two terms as an Alderman for the City of Chicago from 2011-2019. Pawar received a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy from Missouri Valley College, a Master in Public Administration from Illinois Institute of Technology, and a Master in Threat and Response Management and a Master in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago.
* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.

newswire info
  • About
  • Latest Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • Israelisnipers shooting and killing hospital workers in Gaza - December 11, 2023
  • CAIR Condemns Israeli Executions of Wounded, Unarmed Palestinian in West Bank   - December 11, 2023
  • Arab and Muslim American voters face a “simple choice” between Biden’s inhumanity and Trump’s edgy politics - December 9, 2023

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
American Arabs, Civil Rights, News, racism Tags:appointments, Arab Americans, boards, broken promise, commissions, Governor, Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, non-Arab

Post navigation

Previous Post: New report on Christians in Iraq shows desperate situation and needs
Next Post: Chicago Mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson promises to support Arabs and Muslims

Related Posts

  • ISIS Will Make its Own Currency, in Gold Ali Younes
  • St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church Pastor Rev. Fouad Saba with American Arab Chamber of Commerce President Hassan Nijem at a property tax refund workshop organized by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas where nearly $90,000 in tax overpayments were refunded
    American Arab Chamber of Commerce deserves our support Activism
  • Mr. Trump: The Women’s March, Facebook, I AM Palestine #ThisAmerican @POTUS @realDonaldTrump American Arabs
  • Zalatimo offers Arabic sweets & free serving dish Bloggers
  • Former City Hall reporter Ray Hanania, ShawnTe Raines-Welch and Nick Kantas, candidates for Judge in the 4th SubCircuit, and Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar.
    Nearly 100 candidates, officials address Arab Democratic Club forum Sunday American Arabs
  • Palestinian Journalist Bakr Abdel Haq, arrested by Israel March 27, 2018. Photo courtesy of The Gaza Post News
    Israeli troops detain Palestinian reporter at border crossing Arab World

More Related Articles

Illinois Governor Rauner promises to turn in names of Arab activists to Israel American Arabs
American Arab Saad helps Blackhawks win Stanley Cup American Arabs
Intel, Israel’s largest employer, pressed for Fair Employment Activism
Iraqi girl from the PBS documentary "Nowhere to Hide" Airing August 27, 2018 on PBS PBS to air documentary on struggle of Iraqi family August 27, 2018 Arab World
US Congresswoman Btty McCollumn, 4th District, Minnesota. Photo courtesy of McCollum's congressional page McCollum introduces legislation to protect Palestinian children American Arabs
Control room of Arabic-language satellite TV channel Alhurra, June 2008 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Alberto Fernandez named to head outreach to Arab World Arab World

Comments (2) on “Pritzker makes more appointments, none are Arab American”

  1. Pingback: Pritzker makes extra appointments, none are Arab American - News Marty
  2. Pingback: Pritzker makes extra appointments, none are Arab American - Lifes and Jobs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Ray Hanania's 4 times a week columns at https://RayHanania.com at Substack

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Photo courtesy of Journalist Abdennour Toumi
    France: Political Compromise vs Political Instability
    August 28, 2024
  • Zakia Restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia
    Arabs eat Middle East food like they are making love
    June 27, 2024
  • Zwar lamb kabob and kufta with white and yellow rice
    Zwar ranked the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland suburbs
    June 8, 2024
  • Pictured: Rahm Emanuel, Afghan activist Salman Aftab who was co-chair of the Iftar dinner, and several non-Arab Muslim leaders. Also pictured is Ald. Joe Moore. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania for Arab News
    Comprehensive look at the failings of former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
    January 18, 2024
  • NEWSWIRE
  • CAIR Logo. Council on American Islamic Relations
    CAIR Condemns MIT for banning Class President from Graduation Ceremony over Anti-Genocide speech
    June 1, 2025
  • Arab American community liaison Hassan Nijem, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta at the Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by Pappas’s office.
    Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month
    April 29, 2025
  • 04-28-25 Pappas Arab Heritage Month
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders
    April 27, 2025
  • Mike Ghouse
    Celebration of 500th Interfaith Marriage Ceremony
    February 14, 2025

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • NEWS
  • Al-Haq
    War crimes probe urged against two Israeli snipers who intentionally killed civilian women, children
    July 2, 2025
  • CAIR Executive Director and co-founder Nihad Awad
    CAIR Says Israel Turns Gaza into ‘Human Slaughterhouse’ as Killing of Civilians Continues
    July 1, 2025
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Faisal Abbas Book Anecdotes
    Book Review: Arab author shares his anecdotes living in the United Kingdom
    October 22, 2024
  • Columnist Ray Hanania at the ADC Convention in Dearborn with the author Susan Abulhawa
    Book Review: Mornings in Jenin bySusan Abulhawa
    September 14, 2024
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Television set and remote. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
    MBC GROUP unveils MBCNOW, its brand-new groundbreaking entertainment service aggregator
    February 24, 2025
  • ArabCon 2024 Gala Program features Dr. Cornel West, Macklemore, and more
    September 6, 2024
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2025 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme