Board of Directors

Andrew Davis, President

Andrew Davis joined the Board of The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) in 2006 after a twenty-five year career in capital markets trading. ISAC is the State of Illinois’s student financial aid agency. In 2007 on the eve of the financial crisis that led to the demise of Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns, ISAC was an under-capitalized five billion dollar student lender and manager of Illinois’s Monetary Award Program. Davis was named “Captain” of this financial Titanic. During the crisis prominent financial institutions went bust and most student lenders ceased making loans. ISAC utilized creative partnerships with Illinois Credit Unions and the US Treasury to continue making loans to Illinois students. ISAC also earned taxpayers over $100 million by selling non-Illinois assets and repurchasing the agency’s previously issued bonds at a discount.

In 2012 Davis entered the private sector and formed Education Equity, Inc. EEI was an early adopter of so called ISAs or Income Sharing Agreements. ISA funding protects students by not requiring them to pay back when their incomes fall below pre-agreed levels. ISAs allow students to pursue higher cost/higher benefit degree programs without fear of financial failure. This funding while viable has not proven to be scaleable.

In May 2020 Davis founded Education Equity Fund, NFP an Illinois Not For Profit Corporation and IRS approved 501(c) (3). EEF focuses on providing financial-aid to risk-averse K-12 educators who need funding to enroll and complete excellent degree programs. EEF utilizes elements of ISA student protections but in more traditional loan configuration. He continues to serve as EEF’s President.

Other Volunteer service:
Board of Trustees of Beloit College, seventeen years. The last five as Board Chair.
Board of Directors Planned Parenthood of Illinois, six years . Five as Treasurer.

Anne Ladky

Board Chair

Anne Ladky has served as Board Chair of EEF since its inception in 2020. From 1985 until 2016 Ladky served as Executive Director of Women Employed, a 47-year-old organization whose mission is to improve women’s economic status and remove barriers to economic equity. She is a member of the Executive Committee of The Chicago Community Trust and is also on the Board of the Civic Consulting Alliance.

Christian Feaman

Chris Feaman has an extensive background in finance and education. He is the Director of District Advocacy for the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. Previously Feaman was the Senior Director of Finance and Administration at The Epic Academy on Chicago’s SE side after a long career as a securities trader on LaSalle Street. He has an MBA from Northwestern University.

Ashley Clark

Ashley Clark is the Director of Talent Acquisition for the consulting firm Education First. Prior to joining the start-up community, Ashley led high-volume recruiting in the education nonprofit sector. In those roles, Ashley focused on recruiting racially diverse talent committed to entering the teaching profession.

Jill Cannon

Jill Cannon is an experienced Chicago school principal with prior experience in Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, GA, and Cambridge, MA. She earned her Masters Degree in Education Leadership and Administration from Harvard University.

Julia Davis

Julia Davis is a recent graduate of Loyola University of Chicago Law School. She has worked as an advocate of women in Thailand and the US that have been criminalized due to their poverty.

Dr. Steve Fisher

Dr Steve Fisher is the Principal of The Johnson School of Excellence in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. He earned his EdD degree from The University of Illinois at Chicago’s program in Urban Education Leadership.

Dr. Efrain Martinez

Dr Efrain Martinez is the Principal of Northwood Middle School, North Shore School District 112. He earned his EdD degree at National Louis University.

Stratford Shields

Stratford Shields is a Managing Director at Loop Capital Markets. He has vast experience in the field of government finance and student lending.