Meet the Commissioners

Welcome to the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission. Since 1979, the Commission has served the needs of incapacitated adults, through its Office of State Guardian, and all other persons with disabilities through the Human Rights Authority and the Legal Advocacy Service. Please visit the rest of our web site to get important information about the work that we do.

Dr. Mary L. Milano
Director
Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission

The Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission is comprised of eleven citizens appointed by the Governor for three-year terms. These Commissioners serve in a voluntary capacity to govern the agency, and are selected for a particular of expertise. An annual election is held at the end of each fiscal year, at which time the Commissioners elect a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer. Members of the Commission are:

• Sonni Choi Williams - Chairperson
  
• Donald J. Dew, MSW, ACSW - Vice Chairperson
• Mariel Hamer-Sinclair
• Garvin G. Ambrose
• Paula A. Basta
• Representative William Q. Davis
• Mary Kennelly
• Kathryn E. Eisenhart
• Ava George Stewart
• Bob Morgan

Sonni Choi Williams currently serves and works as the City Attorney for the City of Lockport, Illinois since being appointed in June of 2017. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Williams worked for the City of Peoria for over 17 years. She has over 20 years of experience in municipal law and litigation of civil state and federal tort and injunction cases including arguing before state and federal appellate courts and the Illinois Supreme Court. 

Ms. Williams was admitted to the practice in 1999; U.S. District Courts: Central District-IL in 2002 and Northern District-IL in 2017; U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit in 2007; and U.S. Supreme Court in 2013.  She received her J.D. from the Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1999 and her B.A. in history from the University of Iowa in 1994. Ms. Williams was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism from 2005 to 2016 and to the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission Hearing Board, currently as a Panel Chair presiding over attorney disciplinary cases. She is a member of the American Bar Association; National Asian Pacific American Bar Association; Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA); Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association (ILGL); Will County Bar Association; Will County Women's Bar Association; Black Bar Association of Will County; Peoria County Bar Association; and DuPage County Bar Association. Ms. Williams served two terms on the ISBA Assembly, two terms as an ISBA Board of Governor (2012-2018), and on the ILGL Board from 2013-2019. She currently serves on the boards of Korean-American Bar Association of Chicago; Asian-American Bar Association Chicago, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE); Prairie State Legal Services, Northern Illinois University College of Law Board of Visitors, and Lockport Township High School Foundation Board. She was appointed as a chair of the ISBA's Local Government Law Section Council, as a vice-chair of the ISBA's Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, and a member of the ISBA's Leadership Academy Governing Board.

Awards include 2020 Northern Illinois University College of Law Alumna of the Year Award; 2014-2015 ISBA Diversity Leadership Award; 2010 ISBA Board of Governors Award; 2008 ILGL Annual Achievement Award; and 2006 NIU College of Law Young Alumnus of the Year Award.

She is an active member of Lockport's Rotary Club and Lockport Woman's Club. 

Donald J. Dew is President/CEO of Habilitative Systems, Inc. (HSI), a vital Chicago-based behavioral health and human services organization providing programs and services for thousands of children and families with special needs. Since his appointment in 1990, HSI's budget has increased from $6.5 million to approximately $9.5 million in 2020, signaling a significant increase in services to Chicago area residents during an adverse economic period.

During his leadership tenure, Habilitative Systems has also employed thousands of workers with disabilities that have manufactured pillows for various airlines and Amtrak, managed a ServiceMaster franchise and assembled 8,000 collector telephones for the 1996 Democratic National Convention.  Further, he secured over 20 million dollars over the past two decades from HUD and the Chicago Department of Housing to develop 160 units of senior and disability housing.  In 2017, Dew secured a $4.5 million multiyear contract from the Cook County Health and Hospital Systems to provide Mental Health, Opioid Screening and Wellness services through the development of the Westside Community Triage and Wellness Center in partnership with the Bobby E, Wright Comprehensive Behavioral Health Services. In 2020, HSI received the largest allocation of funds totaling $4.5 million dollars from the Illinois Department of Human Services Census initiative to serve as Regional Intermediary for the Counting on Chicago Coalition 2020, in collaboration with 30 partnering organizations.

Mr. Dew brings to this position forty-two years of professional experience and a vast knowledge of the programs and demands of health and human services. He received his Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree in 1980 from Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois; B.A in Social Work from Lewis University in 1978, where he previously served as Graduate Adjunct Faculty for Organizational Leadership within the College of Arts and Sciences.  He also has earned Certificates in Business Administration from UIC and Harvard University Business School's Perspectives in Non Profit Leadership.  

Mr. Dew is a member of the International Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities Board of Trustees, National Association of Social Workers, National Association of Black Social Workers, and Academy of Certified Social Workers.  He was the past Presiding Chair, of the inaugural African-American Family Commission under Governor Edgar, board member for Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital Board of Directors, and UIC Department of Disability and Human Development. Mr. Dew has also been a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. since 1975.

Garvin G. Ambrose is Chief of the Bureau of Administrative Services at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Prior to this role, Ambrose served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County from 2005 to 2013, and then as Chief of Staff to Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez from 2014 to 2016. Ambrose was previously appointed by Governor Dannel Malloy to be the State Victim Advocate in Connecticut and served from March 2013 to July 2014. In that role he advocated for, was instrumental in the creation of, and served as Chairman of Connecticut’s first Victims’ Rights Enforcement Advisory Commission (VREAC).

Ambrose is a member of the 100 Black Men of Chicago youth mentoring organization, an Advisory Board member of the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center and a member of the Board of Trustees of Kids Above All. He was a 2016 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, and a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs 2019 class of Emerging Leaders. Ambrose served as a member of former Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke’s Judicial Selection Committee from June 2019 until October 2022, and is a member of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Commission on Character & Fitness. Ambrose earned his BS in Criminal Justice from Southeast Missouri State University in 2001 and his JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2005.  He is married to Toya R. Ambrose, and they both serve as licensed foster parents since 2019.

Paula Basta was appointed Director of the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) in March of 2019, becoming the 13th director, and seventh woman to lead the agency. As a lifelong advocate for the care and treatment of senior citizens, Paula brings her institutional knowledge of senior services, policy, and social justice to lead the Illinois Department on Aging.

Paula has over 40 years of experience working with Older Adults. The first 20 years of Paula’s career was spent in the not-for-profit sector for organization such as: Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly; St. Clement Catholic Church; and Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.). While at H.O.M.E, Paula was named Executive Director following the retirement of its founders and remained in that role for five years before embarking on a 20-year career in Government.

Paula’s governmental experience began March of 2000, with the City of Chicago’s Department on Aging as the Director of Information and Assistance from 2000-2004, then transitioned within the City of Chicago Department on Aging to begin a 14-year career as the Regional Director of the Northeast (Levy) Senior Center. Her most recent position prior to joining IDoA was with the Chicago Housing Authority as the Director of Senior Services and Health Initiatives. While serving as Director of Senior Services and Health Initiatives, Paula oversaw social services for 54 senior buildings and 10,000 seniors throughout Chicago.

Paula has dedicated much of her free time to serving on several not-for-profit boards: Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN); the Center for Law and Social Work; Windy City Performing Arts; and Equality Illinois. She has also served as Chairperson for the American Society on Aging (ASA) LBGT Aging Issues Network (LAIN).

Paula received a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, and a Master of Divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. She served as an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University in Chicago and mentored many students through the Chicago Bridge program. Paula was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2009 and named to the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership Class of 2010. She currently lives in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.

Will Davis was born on July 2, 1968 in Harvey, IL. Davis holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from Governors State University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Southern IL University in Carbondale.

Since taking office, Davis' top legislative priorities include education funding, increased health care availability, supplier diversity and economic development. He understands that small businesses are the backbone of our community and has been a vocal advocate for bringing new jobs to our area as well as advocating for workplace equity.

In 2005 Representative Davis helped make Illinois the first state in the nation to guarantee access to quality and affordable health care for all children. Working continuously to improve health care, he has supported actions to address cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, lupus, sickle cell disease and cancer.

In 2017 Illinois took bold steps in the way it funded education. Davis was the chief House sponsor of SB1947, the Evidence-Based Funding model for school funding reform. Illinois adopted an evidenced-based model as a pathway to redefine how it distributes money to school districts. Since its passage, Illinois appropriated millions of new dollars to that effort.

Davis is an Assistant Majority Leader in the 101^st General Assembly and serves on several committees in the House of Representatives. Davis serves as the Leadership representative on the Appropriations-Elementary and Secondary Education Committee. He also serves on the following committees: Appropriations-Capital, Appropriations-Public Safety, Energy and Environment, International Trade and Commerce and is Chairman of the Minority/Disadvantage Analysis Subcommittee of the Labor and Commerce Committee. He additionally serves as a Commissioner on the state's Budgeting for Results Commission as well as the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission.

Davis has been recognized with Legislator of the Year awards from the Illinois Association of Code Enforcement, Illinois Primary Healthcare Association, Illinois School Counselor Association and Illinois Association of Park Districts, and the Illinois Association of School Social Workers. Davis is a former Joint Chairman of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and a charter member of Pi Alpha Alpha, the International Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration at Governors State University as well as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

Davis' 30^th District includes all or portions of Blue Island, Dixmoor, Dolton, East Hazel Crest Flossmoor, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Markham, Midlothian, Oak Forest, Phoenix, Posen, Riverdale and Robbins.

Davis and his family reside in the village of Homewood.

Mariel Hamer-Sinclair is a dynamic leader and advocate who brings a wealth of expertise and passion to her role as Associate Director of Program & Policy at the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD). She is at the helm of the Program & Policy Unit, where she supervises a dedicated team and drives forward-thinking strategies that impact the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities across Illinois.

Mariel’s work is both broad and impactful, overseeing 15-30 statewide grant projects and the grant-making process, and coordinating Council activities in critical areas such as Education, Employment, Health, Housing, and more. Her ability to navigate the complexities of State and Federal laws, policies, and regulations makes her an invaluable resource for the Council, providing key recommendations and insights that shape the future of developmental disability services in Illinois.

Mariel is also a leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), having developed and facilitated the implementation of ICDD’s DEI strategic plan. Her commitment to inclusivity is evident in her work, where she develops strategies, advises on legislation, and testifies before the Illinois General Assembly and Chicago City Council, underscoring her role as a Subject Matter Expert.

In addition to her legislative work, Mariel is a communications strategist, promoting and enhancing the visibility and prestige of ICDD. She manages all communication outlets, from social media to website design, ensuring that the agency’s message is clear, impactful, and far-reaching.

Mariel's career began at the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), where she worked as a Case Manager in the Home Services Program, igniting her passion for advocacy. She then served as a Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC) for the Social Security Administration’s Work Incentive Planning and Assistance Program, supporting individuals across several Illinois counties in navigating work incentives.

Her dedication to youth empowerment led her to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) as a Transition Specialist, where she impacted the lives of over 22,000 transition-aged students with disabilities. Her exceptional service earned her a promotion to Transition Manager, advocating for resources and opportunities that prepare students for life beyond high school.

Mariel holds a Master’s degree in Human Service Administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield. Her educational background, combined with her extensive experience, positions her as a leader dedicated to systems change. More than just a policy expert, Mariel is a change-maker, committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable world for individuals with disabilities. Her work embodies her unwavering commitment to advocacy, innovation, and leadership.

Kathryn E. Eisenhart joined the faculty of the University of Illinois Springfield in 1992 as a member of the Legal Studies Department. She served as chair several times before she retired in 2014 as Associate Professor Emerita. Before joining the faculty at UIS, she was an associate attorney at Leahy Law Office in Springfield. There were three lawyers, all women, and they took the case of Rutan v. Republic Party to the U.S Supreme Court and won. Her first job as a lawyer was as an attorney with the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission and the not-for-profit Protection and Advocacy, now Equipped for Equality. She is active in the Illinois State Bar Association, having served as chair of the Human Rights Section Council, the Chair of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee and editor of the Human Rights Newsletter. She graduated with a Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law in 1982.

Ava George Stewart is a criminal justice attorney. Born in South Carolina, she has lived most of her life in the Land of Lincoln. She became a Northwestern Wildcat at age 17. By the time she received her B.A. she knew she wanted to permanently live in Illinois. Ava also holds a Masters of Science from Northwestern University, and a J.D. from the University of Illinois, College of Law.

Prior to becoming an attorney, she gained over ten years of management experience as Executive Director at several not-for-profit organizations, with a focus on homeless and disenfranchised women and children throughout Chicagoland. In addition to managing her law firm, Ava also teaches Appellate Advocacy and Advocacy at The UIC John Marshall Law School.

ISBA involvement has been a core aspect of Ava’s career. Ava has been an active member of the ISBA since 2003. She has served on the ISBA Board of Governors since 2016. She has been a proud member of ISBA Mutual since the first day she started her firm in 2005. A firm believer in assisting other members of the Bar and supporting Access to Justice, Ava served as a member of the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Board of Directors from 2016-2021.

She is currently serving her 5th term as a member of Scope and Correlation. She has also been honored to serve as a member of the ISBA Assembly. Ava has served as Chair of two substantive section councils including the Traffic Laws and Courts Section Council from 2011-2012 and the Criminal Justice Section Council from 2015-2016. She published several newsletter articles as an active member of Bench and Bar from 2016-2019, the Illinois Bar Journal’s Editorial Board from 2010-2018; Marketing and Communications from 2015-2018; The Solo and Small Firm Planning Committee (2015-2017); and the Special Committee on Member Services in 2017. Additionally, Ava has been delighted to serve as Board Liaison to the following: Criminal Justice Section, Human Rights Section, Standing Committee on Law Office Management and Economics, Illinois Bar Journal--Editorial Board, Standing Committee on Member Services, Standing Committee on Corrections and Sentencing, Standing Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI), and the Standing Committee on Women and the Law.

Outside of ISBA leadership, Ava serves as a Board member for The Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (2016-present), Women Everywhere, (2012-present), and Green City Market (2020-present). Previously, she served the Black Women Lawyer’s Association (BWLA) as a Board Member-At-Large (2016-2018). She also served on the Scholarship Board for BWLA. She is a founding member, and a lifetime member, of the Women’s Criminal Defense Bar Association, a past Board member of Minority Legal Education Resources (MLER), a member of the Chicago Lincoln Inn of Court, the Cook County Bar Association, and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois.

Ava enjoys spending time with her husband of twenty years, Alistair George Stewart. You can often find them exploring the outdoors, fly fishing, and baking bread. In her spare time, Ava is a Master Gardener and enjoys canning-preserving homegrown fruit and pickled vegetables.

Bob Morgan serves as the State Representative for Illinois’ 58th District and has held the position since 2019. Rep. Morgan serves as Chair of the House Health Care Licensing Committee, and Vice Chair of the House Insurance Committee. He has served on the Human Services Appropriations Committee since joining the General Assembly. Rep. Morgan has focused much of his legislature tenure on making healthcare more affordable and accessible, and supporting state resources for Illinois residents with disabilities.  

Rep. Morgan previously served as the lead healthcare attorney for the State of Illinois where he was instrumental in expanding ACA's Medicaid coverage to over 650,000 Illinois residents. He was lauded for his efforts to implement the Affordable Care Act and the Illinois Medical Cannabis Program. The state’s medical cannabis program has already helped over 150,000 residents struggling with debilitating medical conditions like cancer and PTSD.  While an attorney for the Office of the Governor, Rep. Morgan helped develop and implement the Adult Protective Services Act following the revelation of systemic failures in reporting and investigations of abuse and neglect of adults with disabilities.

Rep. Morgan lives in Deerfield with his wife Sonya, and two children. Active in the local community, Bob is a tireless advocate for those without a voice. He is an active Board Member of the Anti-Defamation League and serves on the Board of Trustees of Equip for Equality.