Leadership

Nancy Johnstone currently serves as the Executive Director at the Chicago Child Care Society, a 160 year old child welfare agency recognized for its work with vulnerable children and families. Prior to her employment at CCCS, she served for 32 years as Executive Director of Youth Guidance, a Chicago social service agency recognized for innovation and effectiveness in delivering high quality school-based programs for children and youth. Hired by CCCS in November, 2005, she has been responsible for getting the agency "back on track" after years of constant changes in executive and departmental leadership. Working in partnership with Associate Director Deborah Hagman-Shannon, she has focused primarily on staff and program development, board development, and the building of a culture that embraces innovation, quality and passion for the work of the organization. In addition to her organizational work, for the past sixteen years she has been a part-time lecturer at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration (SSA), where she teaches a management class. She is a regular workshop presenter for SSA's Professional Development Program.

In addition to her agency work and her teaching, Nancy has always been active in the larger community. She is a life member on SSA's Visiting Committee. She has been a long-term volunteer with the United Way, and she has served on numerous committees and task forces dealing with human service issues. As a volunteer, Nancy launched and for ten years led an organization called Women In Charge, which focused on promoting skills and opportunities for women in management positions in non-profit organizations. Nancy is a member of the Chicago Network, an organization comprised of women who have distinguished themselves through accomplishments in their respective professions. In 1994 Nancy received the Public Service Citation from the University of Chicago Alumni Association for creative citizenship and exemplary leadership in voluntary activities.

Nancy holds a Masters Degree in Social Work, having attended SSA for one year and completing her degree at Carleton University in Canada.

Dr. Deborah Hagman-Shannon became Associate Director of CCCS in 2005. With Ms. Nancy Johnstone, she assumes a partnership role in directing the programs and services of CCCS.

Prior to joining CCCS, Deborah held a range of positions in the private, non-profit and education sectors. From 1998-2000, she was Vice-President for Workforce Development at the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning.

Prior to that time, she served as the First Vice President for Quality at Firstar Bank, which was then a major regional holding company with assets of $20 million, 8,000 employees and over 200 bank offices in the Midwest, Arizona and Florida. Leading up to this, she was a senior consultant for the Technology Exchange Center, a consulting organization that assisted organizations such as Bechtel, Beatrice Hunt-Wesson and the U.S. Department of Defense in implementing quality management. During the 1980's, Deborah held administrative positions at the University of Washington, the California State University Systems Office and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Deborah has been an active volunteer and board member for many years. Recent board service includes The Junior League of Chicago, The Chicago Child Care Society, St. Leonard's Ministries and Brent House. She holds a Bachelors Degree from St. Olaf College, a Masters Degree from the University of Nebraska and a doctorate from Claremont University. Deborah teaches at the University of Chicago's Graham School in two different certificate programs, Process Management and Human Capital Management.