Each year, the McGaw YMCA Board of Directors nominates a new cohort of individuals to serve on the Board and the Membership of the McGaw YMCA votes to elect new board members during the virtual Board Election. The proposed slate is listed below.
This year’s virtual Board Election will be held December 1 – 8. Current McGaw Y members will receive an email at 8:00 a.m. (CDT) on Monday, December 1, with a link to the virtual ballot to cast their vote. The polls will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 8.
The Board election results will be shared at the Annual Meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, December 9 at 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the McGaw YMCA Chinnock Lounge. RSVP for the Annual Meeting.
Current Board Members Up for Re-Election
The following slate of current board members is up for re-election during the Board Election.
Three-Year Term:
- Michael Bergmann
- Corey Winchester
New Board Member Nominees (3-year Term)
The following slate of new candidates is up for election during the Board Election (presented in alphabetical order).
Emily Bothfeld is an education attorney and Partner at Hogan Marren Babbo & Rose, where she counsels educational institutions and nonprofit organizations on governance, regulatory compliance, and civil rights matters.
She and her family moved to Evanston during the COVID-19 pandemic and quickly found a sense of belonging through the McGaw YMCA. With two children now enrolled at Dewey Elementary and the YMCA Children’s Center, her family has benefited from a wide range of Y programs—from aftercare and summer camp to sports and swimming. The Y has played vital role in helping them build community connections and supporting her children’s growth and transition into District 65.
Emily serves on the Board of Trustees of Associated Colleges of Illinois, a nonprofit consortium of independent colleges and universities committed to supporting underserved students in Illinois through scholarships, mentoring, and career readiness initiatives. Emily is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the George Washington University Law School.
Emily lives two blocks from the Y with her husband Ned, a financial advisor who grew up in Evanston, their two children, and their puppy Buie (named after Northwestern basketball star Boo Buie). Her family became connected to the McGaw Y shortly after moving to Evanston in 2021, and the Y’s programs—from early childhood and aftercare to sports and enrichment—have been instrumental in supporting her children’s growth and helping her family build community. She is excited to give back by helping the Y continue serving as a welcoming and inclusive space that supports individuals and families and strengthens our community.
Deldri R. Dugger is a seasoned business and technology executive with 30+ years of leadership experience across Fortune 500 firms, global consultancies, and complex IT transformation initiatives. As Director of Technology Financial Management for the Cybersecurity division at CNA Insurance, she drives innovation, security, and growth across sectors including CPG, pharma, retail, and finance. Deldri has led global programs up to $60M, delivering results using Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid methodologies. She has held leadership roles at Kraft Foods, Motorola, Baxter, and Georgia Tech, aligning IT with business strategy and enabling digital transformation. Internationally, she has supported market expansion and M&A in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Deldri holds an MBA, MS in Project Management, and multiple certifications including CSM and ITIL. A servant leader, she actively serves in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Ivy Pearl Foundation, and Second Baptist Church in Evanston, fostering education, leadership, and community impact.
She is deeply engaged in the Evanston community through worship at Second Baptist Church and active membership in two local organizations—Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Delta Chi Omega Chapter, and the Ivy Pearl Foundation Inc.—both of which are dedicated to delivering impactful community programming and scholarships to local students. These experiences reflect her commitment to service, equity, and youth empowerment, values that align closely with the mission of McGaw YMCA.
As a potential McGaw YMCA board member, she is most excited about advancing its mission of strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. With a deep commitment to servant leadership and a track record of driving strategic transformation, she looks forward to leveraging her experience to support inclusive programs that empower families and foster lifelong wellness. The opportunity to serve alongside others who share a passion for equity and impact in Evanston is truly inspirational.
Mercedes Fernández is a bilingual interpreter and translator (English–Spanish), community outreach specialist, and trainer in Latino leadership development. She currently serves as the Latino Liaison & Minority Language Coordinator at Evanston Township High School (ETHS) District 202.
With a professional background spanning law, political science, journalism, and medical interpretation, Mercedes has built a career bridging language, culture, and advocacy. She previously worked as a bilingual reporter for Hoy (Chicago Tribune), La Raza, and Reflejos (Daily Herald), and as a medical interpreter.
Her leadership extends beyond the classroom, as the founder and president of Latinos in Skokie (2010), Latinos in Evanston NorthShore – LENS (2019), and the Latino Development Center (CEDEL, 2025). She also serves on the City of Evanston’s Social Services Committee.
Mercedes has been recognized with the 2007 Community Advocate Award from the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network and the 2023 Guillebeaux-Arceneaux Spirit Award from ETHS.
She is an Evanston resident and has been a staff member at ETHS for the past 13 years. What excites her most about this opportunity to serve on the McGaw YMCA board is the chance to help promote greater inclusion of the Latino community at the Y, drawing on her extensive professional and volunteer leadership experience in Evanston. She hopes to help advance this vision by encouraging bridges of understanding, respect, and collaboration that uplift every member of Evanston’s diverse community.
Theodore “Teddy” Umstead Foster is a seasoned human resources executive with over 25 years of experience in human capital strategy, organizational development, and talent management. He currently serves as Vice President of Human Resources at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), where he plays a pivotal role in strengthening HR governance, fostering workforce development, and aligning HR strategies with an impactful mission-driven culture.
Prior to LSSI, Teddy held leadership positions within Endeavor Health and Evanston Hospital (NorthShore University HealthSystem), as well as leadership HR roles at BJC HealthCare and Bank of America—including Vice President of Global Human Resources and Workforce Management Strategy & Analytics. He has also led HR & Corporate Development for a regional anti-poverty nonprofit in St. Louis and attained certification as a Certified Community Action Professional.
He holds an MBA and the SPHR credential and is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Development at Benedictine University, building on his BA in History from Lindenwood University.
As a resident of Chicago’s North Shore community, former HR leader for Evanston Hospital, member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, as well as the Evanston Alumni Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, there are several organic intersections with the community served by the McGaw YMCA. He is excited to be considered for service to an organization that aligns with his personal values. Secondly, with over 15 years of nonprofit experience and over 20 years of professional Human Resource Management, he is eager for the opportunity to leverage his expertise to support the YMCA and contribute to the community it serves.
Erinn Kenney is a Program Officer on the Gates Foundation’s Philanthropic Partnerships Team. She holds a passion for philanthropic strategy, global health, and project management for social impact. Most recently, she worked at CCS Fundraising where she embedded with nonprofits in healthcare and social service to plan and execute development strategies and capital campaigns. As an Assistant Vice President at CCS, she has worked with Chicago Youth Centers and UChicago Medicine.
Erinn has also worked internationally as a Global Health Corps Fellow where she managed Communications and Partnerships at a network of HIV/AIDS providers in Kampala, Uganda. She began her career in Washington, D.C. on the Glover Park Group (now FGS Global) International Affairs Team.
Holding an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and a Public Policy Degree from American University, Erinn lives in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood with her partner Andy and her dogs, Laika and Rocky. She is a proud Camp Echo alumni and Evanstonian (Go Wildkits!).
Erin sees the Y as a place for people of all ages to be creative, stay active, and find support and connection. She is excited by the potential to be a part of the Board to work with the McGaw YMCA team to help grow its generational commitment to the Evanston community.
Krenice Ramsey is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Young, Black & Lit, a literacy nonprofit dedicated to providing children’s books featuring Black characters to youth at no cost. She previously served as a Civil Rights Attorney with the U.S. Department of Education and as an Assistant Attorney General in the Special Litigation Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office under Lisa Madigan. A graduate of Spelman College with a B.A. in Sociology, Krenice went on to earn her J.D. from New York University School of Law. Born and raised in Evanston, she remains deeply connected to her community through her work with organizations such as the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy. She is also a proud wife and mother of two.
She has been connected to the McGaw YMCA in many different capacities over the years, including participating in community events as an Evanston community member, serving as a steering committee member for the Y Achievers, donating books to McGaw Y programming through her non-profit Young, Black and Lit, previously having a family membership, and enrolling my daughter in swimming and sports programs at the YMCA.
She is most excited about the opportunity to contribute her time and skills to support the McGaw YMCA’s mission and serve the community through this vital community resource.
Christian Sorensen has managed political campaigns and supported elected officials as a staff member for many years, from Deval Patrick in 2006 through recent local leaders such as Illinois House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Cam Davis, and State Representative Tracy Katz Muhl. He is currently a co-owner of the private label Wagyu distributor and meat brokerage Patronage Meats, LLC. Christian is also formerly a licensed commodity broker and financial advisor, an ETHS graduate, and lives on Maple in Evanston with his wife and children.
Christian shared why he is excited about the opportunity to join the McGaw Y board. “I love the Y, my children love the Y, my parents and siblings and friends love the Y. I also want to respect that love and care and uphold the values of the Y for the next waves of Evanstonians.”
Henry Wilkins is dedicated to improving educational experiences for children in Evanston. He founded STEM School Evanston, a nonprofit working to establish a community school that expands STEM learning opportunities in the city’s Central Core. Henry serves on Evanston/Skokie School District 65’s Student Assignment Committee (SAC), chairs the Education Subcommittee for Reparations, and leads the Social and Social Action Committee for the Evanston Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He also serves on the board of Youth Opportunity United (Y.O.U.), supporting after-school and mental health services for marginalized youth. Under Henry’s leadership, STEM School Evanston has received multiple grants, including from the Evanston Community Foundation and Northwestern University, to advance educational equity. With nearly 20 years of finance experience, Henry works at AbbVie and previously held roles at Ernst & Young, Frito Lay, S.C. Johnson, and Reynolds Consumer Products. He lives in Evanston with his two children.
Henry has been connected to the McGaw YMCA as an Evanston community member, supporter, and advocate for youth and family engagement. His work leading efforts to reopen a neighborhood school in the Fifth Ward reflects his commitment to equity, STEM education, and community-centered learning—values that align closely with McGaw Y’s mission.
He’s excited about the opportunity to serve on the Board and help the Y expand its impact on youth development, wellness, and equity. He believes his experience in community leadership and STEM advocacy can help strengthen programs that empower young people to see themselves as future leaders in the Evanston community.