Shannon Lightner-Gometz is a public health leader who has served in leadership capacities in state and federal government and within a national nonprofit to transform the health of communities. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) where she oversees all programming and regulatory functions at the Department. Prior to this role, she served as Deputy Director of IDPH, overseeing the Office of Women’s Health and Family Services where she worked to improve the health of women and children in Illinois.
She holds master’s degrees in social work and in Public Administration from Columbia University and a Bachelor Degree from UCLA. She volunteers in her Bronzeville community and is actively involved in many civic engagement efforts and political efforts across the country. She serves on the Camp Kupugani Parent Advisory Council and is an active parent volunteer for The Ancona School.