Introducing NLU's 2022 Commencement Week Alumni Speakers

Julie Chavez will speak at NLU’s 2022 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, June 25, Tiffany Allen will be speaking at the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on Wednesday, June 22, and Linda Caradine-Poinsett will be speaking at the Leadership and Honors Ceremony on Thursday, June 23.

NLU Commencement Ceremony Alumni Speaker, Julie Chavez

Julie Chavez earned both her undergraduate degree and MBA from National Louis University. Julie is Senior Vice President and Market Manager for Bank of America where she is responsible for managing a variety of programs in the areas of philanthropy, community and civic engagement, volunteerism, sponsorships, communications, and business integration for the Chicago area. Julie, a native of the Chicago and the Pilsen community, has taken her grass roots approach to corporate philanthropy.

Julie has remained active with a number of Chicago-area nonprofit and civic institutions. More recently she served on the boards of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and the National Museum of Mexican Arts, where she served several terms as board chair and now life trustee. Julie currently serves on the boards of National Louis University and Metropolitan Family Services; the advisory board of Local Initiatives Support Corporation Chicago; and is a fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago.

Julie continues to be a role model for others and encourages a commitment to community by volunteering and serving on committees and boards. Julie has a personal responsibility to improve diversity and inclusion in corporate philanthropy and continues to advocate for more people of color to be leaders in philanthropy, whether serving as staff, as board members or active donors. During her career at Bank of America, she has served in a variety of positions in global marketing, corporate affairs, charitable giving, and community development. More prominently, in 1991 Julie was named as Director of the Continental Bank Foundation. With Bank of America’s 1994 acquisition of Continental Bank, she transitioned her corporate philanthropy work to Bank of America. For over 30 years Julie has overseen Bank of America’s giving programs, with a commitment to funding organizations and communities in need. Under Julie’s leadership Bank of America continues to direct support to community development in areas of affordable housing, workforce development, youth, basic needs, and the arts. Julie lives on Chicago’s near west side where her interests include spending time with family, gardening, reading, cooking, traveling and visiting local and national cultural institutions. 

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony Alumni Speaker, Tiffany Allen

Dr. Allen is an alumna of National Louis University where she earned her doctorate in Community Psychology. She was born and raised here in Illinois on Chicago’s West Side. Dr. Allen, an NLU-lifer, also achieved her Baccalaureate in Management and Leadership and Master’s degree in Business Administration at NLU. She served in the United States Army for 15 years where she completed one overseas assignment to Bosnia providing aide and logistical supports to a country recovering from its own civil war.

After her service to the military, Dr. Allen’s journey continued in Product Management where she was responsible for forecasting critical supply needs to major retailers during natural disasters. Dr. Allen has successfully led the development of two mobile applications to promote low-cost physical fitness resources to veterans and running communities and has consulted on several other design projects. Her most recent accomplishments include developing a data literacy model for community organizations that support children from ages Birth to Five and creating strong and sustainable professional development programs for early childhood leadership. She is also a contributor on the Illinois Risk and Reach Report for Early Childhood Care and Education as well as the 2021 Illinois Fiscal Scan Report.

With over twenty years of experience in both public and private sectors, a knack for making meaningful connections and an insatiable appetite for learning, Dr. Allen understands the challenges communities face in adjusting to changing environments and prides herself on her community focused, mission driven approach.

Dr. Allen’s passion is to collaboratively create 'open spaces' for intergenerational leaders and practitioners who are committed to shifting the systems they practice in and the communities they serve by: sharing, inquiring, learning, and using their 'voice' to facilitate change.

Leadership and Honors Ceremony Alumni Speaker, Linda Caradine-Poinsett

Dr. Caradine-Poinsett is a great example of a life-long learner, earning multiple degrees from National Louis University including a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Leadership, an MBA, and a Certificate in Finance. Upon earning her MBA, Dr. Caradine-Poinsett landed her first CEO position just a few months after graduation, and has since led many other organizations as CEO. She is now the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of the Institution of Real Estate Management (IREM). Prior to IREM, Dr. Caradine-Poinsett served as CEO of the American College of Prosthodontists.

Her passion for leading is driven by her love of the responsibility for vision setting and charting the direction of organizations and showcasing her expertise in business, finance, organizational leadership, and strategic management. Dr. Caradine-Poinsett is a self-prescribed “servant leader” with a history of making significant impacts in organization with her “pay-it-forward” leadership style, leading with empathy, compassion, and the goal to serve others.

Dr. Caradine-Poinsett also holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership and an M.J. with an emphasis in Health Law. Throughout her career, she has been recognized with National Louis University’s REACH Distinguished Alumni Award (2018), a Women in Business Entrepreneur Award (Chicago), and a Women of Excellence Award from the Chicago Defender (2021). Dr. Caradine-Poinsett also spends time volunteering as an Advisory Board Member for Southside Help Center and as a Board Member with A Silver Lining Foundation.