SR0292 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0292 LRB104 13426 ECR 25792 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Cheryl F. Green, Ph.D., who passed away on April 23, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Green was a native of Chicago's South Side; at a young age, she served as a literacy tutor, witnessing firsthand the disparities in education; she earned her Ph.D. in Psychology, and she was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Green became the first Black president, and the sixth president overall, of Governors State University in July 2020; as president, she made historic moves to elevate the visibility of the institution while creating opportunities and removing barriers to education; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Green led the effort to ensure Governors State University created a free-standing Social Justice Initiative to address barriers to social mobility, equity, and justice; she also oversaw the establishment of the Latinx Resource Center at the university, which was created to support and nurture the growing Latinx student population; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Green secured Governors State University's largest private donation in history, created the Honors College and the College of Graduate Studies, and brought the Illinois Black Hall of Fame to the university; she also established many new institutions on campus, including the first Greek-lettered organizations at Governors State University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Green was committed to serving her community through her work on several corporate and community boards across the nation; she impacted many by serving students in higher education across several states, including Indiana, Tennessee, and Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Green enjoyed the arts and reading; she loved learning about history and often infused speeches with historical references to Black history and Latin American history; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Green was immensely proud of her two adult children and spoke fondly of her extensive family; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Cheryl F. Green, Ph.D. and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Dr. Green as an expression of our deepest sympathy.