Welcome to New Staff
We’re thrilled to welcome three new staff members to the LINK team: Michael Happ, VP, Advancement; Alexandria Cummings, VP, Programs & Evaluations; and Kyle Semper, Scholar Support Associate.
Alexandria Cummings, VP, Programs & Evaluations
Alexandria is an experienced leader with over 20 years of experience driving economic mobility in communities of color for both the private and nonprofit sectors. Her successes in nonprofit programming include advancing leadership development for talented emerging leaders with a passion for social impact at Public Allies Chicago. She also led financial education initiatives at Chicago Public Schools by developing a 5-year strategic plan to provide equitable access to students and supporting professional development for educators. As a senior program director at YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, she focused on closing the racial wealth gap through homeownership, inclusive financial education, and removing financial barriers for families of color. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to equity and her experiences growing up on the South Side of Chicago.
Michael Happ, VP, Advancement
Mike joins LINK with more than 20 years of experience in nonprofits and the public sector. His work has spanned education, issue advocacy, the arts, faith-based communities, social service agencies, and political action coalitions. Most recently, he served as Executive Director of the District 214 Education Foundation, an organization that supports students and families through school and throughout life by strengthening education, fostering well-being, and expanding opportunities. Mike has an M.S. from DePaul University’s School of Public Service, with a concentration in policy. He has served as president of the Board of Directors of Rape Victim Advocates, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Holy Covenant United Methodist Church, and on the boards of the Ravenswood Community Council and the Chicago Farmers.
Kyle Semper, Scholar Support Associate
Kyle has been passionate about supporting underrepresented students in reaching their fullest potential and overcoming any obstacles they may face since his time as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, where he served as a paraprofessional representing the Counseling Center and sharing its services with the campus community. He later worked with College Possible Chicago as a college access coach who helped first-generation college students at Morgan Park High School achieve their goals of attending college. In his most recent role, Kyle worked with the sophomore class of the Schuler Scholar Program at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep to help prepare students to gain access to highly selective colleges and universities.
Welcome to LINK Unlimited Scholars, Alexandria, Kyle, and Mike! We look forward to seeing your impact on our mission to help our Scholars to, through, and beyond college!
