Lauren Deutsch, Executive Director
Ms. Deutsch served on the Board of Directors of the Jazz Institute for 14 years. As a board member she helped produce and promote concerts, program the Chicago Jazz Festival, develop a high school jazz curriculum and negotiate a home at the University of Chicago for the Jazz Institute of Chicago's archives. Ms. Deutsch's tenure as Executive Director of the Jazz Institute of Chicago began in 1996. Her background in community organization and the arts provided the impetus to develop programs in collaboration with a variety of small and large institutions, including the 12-year old JazzCity program, a collaboration with the Chicago Park District which provides access to high caliber jazz performances to communities all over Chicago, the Jazz Links teacher-partnership that provides in-school residencies and after school opportunities students to perform with and learn from jazz veterans, and in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs, the conception and programming of Millennium Park's Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz concert series. In 2006 she began a partnership with a cultural arts organization in Poznan, Poland to program and present a 6-concert Made in Chicago festival and was commissioned to create and exhibit her music-inspired artwork..
In 2004 she was selected as one of the Chicago Tribune's Chicagoan's of the Year for her contributions to Chicago's cultural landscape.
Diane Chandler-Marshall, Education Program Director
A former member of the Board of the Jazz Institute of Chicago, Ms. Chandler-Marshall received unanimous board approval for her new role with the organization. Her career in the arts community spans over 20 years as an arts administrator and advocate. Ms. Chandler-Marshall's work includes extensive experience with both local and national-level government, public and private organizations and non-profit arts agencies. In 1999, she was awarded the Music of the Heart Education Award by the National Association for the Recording Arts and Sciences, Inc. for her outstanding contributions to music and arts education.
Virginia Nugent, Development and Marketing Director
An experienced nonprofit arts and culture development and manager, Ms. Nugent brings a broad range of experience from her work in the U.S. in Pennsylvania and Minnesota as well as a different perspective from her home country of Australia. Her responsibilities at the Jazz Institute include playing a key role in fundraising, and leading all areas of marketing and communications. She provides leadership for fundraising activities, oversees the full range of JIC's marketing and communications, and executes day-to-day implementation for a broad range of fundraising and communications activities.
Nike Basurto, Membership & Volunteer Coordinator.
Nike(pronounced Nee-kay) is a non-profit professional who has worked in philanthropy, public policy and social justice for over 20 years. Nike builds JIC through membership and volunteer management.
Lawrence Rocke, Event Production Manager and Book keeper
A former jazz impresario Lawrence more recently owned a catering business. His job responsibilities include preparing financial reports, paying bills, filing tax and other pesky forms and arguing with vendors
Zakiya Powell, Intern
A graduate of our Jazz Links program, Zakiya is also an accomplished trombone player. She assists in coordinating the Jazz Links Student Ensemble activities and other duties related to the Jazz Links Education program.
