Reginald "Reggie" Summerrise '86

Andrew Purnell Jr. Trailblazer Award Winner

• Founder and CEO, LePensur Youth and Family Services, Inc.; Chicago
• Major: Speech Communication

Reggie Summerrise has worked all his life to help others—especially youth and families. He currently serves as president and CEO of Le Penseur Youth & Family Services, Inc., the first Black community-based licensed child welfare agency in South Chicago, which he founded in 1993.

Summerrise began his professional career working in special education for the Chicago Board of Education, and in 1990 served at the Chicago Department of Human Services, assisting homeless and mentally ill clients with benefits, housing, and vocational assistance programs. In 1991, he began working with youth at Jane Addams Hull House and the New Directions program.

Summerrise graduated from Illinois State with a bachelor’s degree in communication, received his master’s degree from Governor State University in education and is currently pursuing his doctorate in human services leadership.  He has continued to serve the Illinois State community long past his years as a student. He’s a member and past president of the Illinois State Black Colleagues Association where he currently sits on the organization’s executive board, and member of the School of Communication advisory board. He also supports the athletic department as an annual donor to the Weisbecker Scholarship Fund and is a longtime season ticket holder.

Outside of Illinois State, he is the past president of the Statewide Advisor Committee for the University of Illinois Extension program and vice president for the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Chicago, He also serves his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., as a member of the international tribunal and is vice president of the FBI National Citizen Academy Alumni Association of Chicago. In addition to founding, supporting, or leading many other community groups, he volunteers his time and experience with mentoring up-and-coming African American CEO’s and working with Chicago Public Schools.