ERICK DESHAUN DORRIS, PRESIDENT

Erick was appointed to the Board of School Inspectors in 2017 and elected in 2019 to represent the east side of Joliet. Erick attended Eisenhower Academy, and is a graduate of Washington Junior High School and Joliet Central High School.  Erick is a co-founder of United In Excellence, an education advocacy and community arts program in Joliet and Baltimore, MD. Erick also serves as General Manager of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. Previously, he has developed education and mentorship programs at Steppenwolf Theater, Lookingglass Theater, Fort Knox Studios, and Chicago Public Schools. Dorris is a member of the Greater Joliet Alliance for Youth (JAY), NAACP - Joliet Branch #3018, Joliet Township High Schools Foundation, Council of Urban School Boards, National Black Council of School Boards, Arts Alliance Illinois, Americans for the Arts, and the Illinois Association of School Boards.  He holds a Bachelor’s in Theatre Arts from Millikin University and a Master’s of Performing Arts Administration from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts.