Illinois state diversity leader resigns amid criticism
[July 15, 2026]
By Jared Strong | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – The head of the embattled Illinois diversity
commission has moved to a different state job after a series of
investigative stories by The Center Square exposed failures at the
agency and prompted bipartisan criticism.
Alexandria Wilson held the job at the Commission on Equity and Inclusion
for about three years and oversaw a switch to a new computer system that
upended its mission to increase access to government contracts for
businesses that are owned by racial minorities, women and people with
disabilities.
The computer switch eliminated an automated process by which many of
those businesses were certified for preference in state contract awards.
As a result, the total number of certified businesses has dropped by
about half to 2,690, as of the end of May.
Wilson declined to say why she sought a different government job.
She was recently hired as chief operating officer of the Illinois Power
Agency -- another state department -- and started July 1, according to
an agency spokesperson. Her new annual salary of $154,000 is slightly
less than what she was paid in her previous job, state records show.
"I am looking forward to strengthening the IPA’s internal operations and
administrative processes in support of its mission for the people of
Illinois," she told The Center Square in an email, noting her
"experience in strategic planning, policy implementation, and
organizational leadership."
She previously was chief of supplier diversity for the Illinois
Department of Innovation and Technology. The Illinois Power Agency said
Wilson will manage its "day-to-day administrative and operational
functions."
"Given her years of experience in strategic planning, policy
development, and operational implementation, Alexandria’s leadership
will bring value to the IPA’s operations," the agency told The Center
Square.
Robin Streets, chief of staff for the diversity commission, has been
appointed as an interim replacement for Wilson, according to documents
obtained by The Center Square.
He and the chairperson of the commission, Nina Harris, did not
immediately respond to requests to comment for this article about
whether the commission's direction will change under new leadership.
"A change in leadership does not eliminate the need for answers
regarding the commission's operations, management, and whether the
commitments made to legislators have been fulfilled," state Rep. Brad
Halbrook, a Shelbyville Republican, told The Center Square. "I remain
committed to ensuring appropriate legislative oversight and will
continue seeking the information necessary to determine what progress,
if any, has been made."
Lawmaker critiques
State lawmakers, often citing The Center Square's reporting, lambasted
the commission's performance in legislative hearings this year as part
of their budget process. They created the commission in 2022 to boost
the amount of state contract money that goes to businesses they view as
disadvantaged.
The lawmakers questioned the precipitous drop in certified businesses
and the leadership of the agency's seven governor-appointed
commissioners, who are each paid about $150,000 per year but are allowed
to work side jobs for pay.
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Alexandria Wilson, executive director of the Illinois Commission on
Equity and Inclusion, answers questions from lawmakers during a
budget hearing, April 15, 2026. Photo: Jared Strong / The Center
Square
The Center Square found that most of the commissioners have worked
side jobs -- often earning more than the $7,500 reporting threshold
set by law -- and that they have fewer responsibilities compared
with their counterparts elsewhere in government.
"We've lost half of our vendors, and yet you're some of the highest
paid people in the state," state Sen. Chapin Rose, the Republican
minority caucus whip, said in an April budget hearing.
Democrats were also troubled by the problems.
"I know you say we're heading in the right direction, but I'm
telling you that business owners that we are talking to are not
saying that," Sen. Elgie R. Sims Jr., the Democrats' appropriations
leader, told the commission's staff at the April hearing.
Another Democrat, state Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, of Chicago,
said she was frustrated the commission had failed for at least a
year to work with the Secretary of State's Office to contact
businesses that might be eligible for certification, which she had
requested. In a recent meeting, commission staff indicated they were
working with the Secretary of State to distribute information that
promotes the certification opportunities.
Despite lawmakers' misgivings, they approved the commission's $5.6
million budget request and gave the commissioners raises of about
$5,000 apiece.
The commission reported that the state awarded about $1.6 billion of
contracts to certified businesses last year -- a new high -- but
that the money went to about 9 percent fewer businesses.
Calls to disband
After the legislative hearings, Republican lawmakers who comprise
the Illinois Freedom Caucus said they want to dismantle the
commission.
"What the Democrats claim was intended to expand opportunity in
state contracting has instead become a multi-million dollar failure
for taxpayers; creating barriers, reducing participation, and adding
unnecessary bureaucracy," the group said in April.
State Rep. Halbrook, a member of the Freedom Caucus, said he is
seeking more information about Wilson's departure and how it might
affect the commission.
"This leadership change comes just months after the commission faced
significant bipartisan scrutiny during the General Services
Appropriations Committee hearings," Halbrook told The Center Square.
"During those hearings, lawmakers were assured that the commission's
ongoing operational and management issues would be addressed by July
1."
Wilson had told lawmakers that the commission was working on a
solution to the computer problem that would be in place by the end
of June. It's unclear whether that happened. The issue was not
discussed during the commission's monthly meeting in June, and
Streets and Harris did not respond to The Center Square's questions
about it. |
