Rhonda Hopps join Comer Education Campus as its new Executive Director effective August 19. Hopps, will succeed Greg Mooney, who will serve as the inaugural Board Chair of the organization. Hopps has over 30 years of leadership experience in the education, strategic growth, and finance sectors.
“I am thrilled we have found such an incredible blend of talents in Rhonda Hopps. She has a deep understanding of the challenges our city’s young people face and is fully committed to advancing our holistic model of education, enrichment, and college and career preparation,” said Mooney. “I am confident that under Rhonda’s leadership, the Comer Education Campus will move to a new level of growth and impact.”
Hopps was previously CEO at Perspectives Charter Schools in Chicago for the past nine years. There she managed a staff of 250 and led initiatives to nearly double Perspectives’ student enrollment, including the design, financing, and construction of a new $25 million campus for three schools. Prior to that she enjoyed a successful 22-year career in real estate advisory and finance with companies including Allstate, Continental Bank, and Prudential. Hopps is currently on the board of Illinois Network of Charter Schools and formerly served on the board of Mercy Lakefront Housing, Clune Construction Company, National Louis University and IFF. She is also a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow. She earned her MBA in Finance and Real Estate from Stanford University and her Bachelor of Arts in Math and Economics from Northwestern University.
“As a first-generation immigrant from a family with limited financial means, I understand the need for young people to have access to caring mentors who provide them with critical opportunities which nurture the confidence and skills to design and create a successful life,” said Hopps. “The Comer legacy of working with the Greater Grand Crossing community and best-in-class partner organizations is inspiring. All children in Chicago need access to these types of resources – but communities often lack the blueprint for how to get this model to work at scale.”
Hopps was selected after a very rigorous search facilitated by Koya Leadership Partners.
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