Our Team

I am thrilled to serve as the Director of the UIC CHANCE Program.  I consider myself a “valued” and invested administrator who has spent over a decade preparing myself to help lead the next generation of CHANCE Scholars and help connect them to society.

Over the past years, it has been a joy to continue to engage with each CHANCE Student and our Alumni who participate in our program. It is an honor to meet and greet each student as I assist them with their personal goals to fulfill their college completion requirements.

Under my leadership, our CHANCE Program will continue to offer our participants far more than tutoring and workshops; we also provide access to a “living and learning environment aimed to prepare our students for real-life settings beyond college.” This semester, we will strive to develop future leaders to take their rightful place in society.

On a personal note, Mrs. Khaliah Young received her Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences from Illinois State University, Bloomington, Illinois. My hobbies include reading, journaling, and spending time with my family.

Alicia M. Sawyer currently serves as the Senior Education Retention Specialist for The CHANCE Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In this role, Mrs. Sawyer oversees the daily coordination and functioning of the CHANCE Student Support Unit, where the goal is to develop and implement short and long-term engagement and retention strategies that encourage student learning, personal development, academic success and career readiness. Additionally, she facilitates the development, coordination and implementation of the Summer STEM Academy (SA) Program for UIC, first-year, engineering students.

With over fourteen years of experience in higher education, Mrs. Sawyer understands the importance of college readiness, access and support. As a first-generation college student, she often reflects on her own experiences while focusing on the connection to campus being vital to retention, success and a comprehensive positive college experience.

Mrs. Sawyer holds both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Social Work from Illinois State University. She is also a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). At UIC, Mrs. Sawyer graciously serves on numerous university committees including Conduct & Community Standards Committee, Student Affairs – Executive Scholarship Review Committee, Restorative Task Force – Community Standards and has chaired two academic professional search committees. She is dedicated to her community and is wholeheartedly committed to providing service, academic readiness and access to the youth. She also believes mentorship is key in preparing the next generation of leaders who continue to inspire and invest in others to carry and pass the torch. Additionally, Mrs. Sawyer has been dedicated member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated for 22 years and recently served as the Advisory Board Chair for the James R. Jordan Foundation.

Current UIC students can click here to schedule a meeting with Ms. Sawyer.

Anthony B. Carr is an Academic Advisor and Program Specialist in the CHANCE Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In his role, he serves as an aid to students, increasing retention and ensuring as many students not only finish college but have skills to succeed in life as well. He also works to increase student engagement through programming on campus.

Anthony was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, IL. For high school, he attended Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men in the Englewood neighborhood. He continued his education by attending Western Illinois University, where he received his bachelor’s in Communications and Sociology.

Being a first-generation college student, he has internalized what that means and what comes with it. Higher Ed can be a difficult space to navigate, but with a good community and hard work, it can be a very rewarding experience. While holding multiple leadership roles during his undergrad experience, he has grown a desire to be a vessel to his community. He believes anyone is capable of greatness as long as they believe it themselves and as long as someone believes in them as well. He is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.

Current UIC students can click here to schedule a meeting with Anthony.

As an Academic Advising and Program Specialist, Maya Smith provides one-on-one coaching to support the CHANCE Program’s goal to prepare students for success in college and the workforce. She also assists with the planning and facilitation of group workshops to promote academic growth, career development, social-emotional learning, and community building. Overall, Maya aims to empower students of all backgrounds to identify their passions, seek opportunities to further their education, and develop a career they love.

After growing up in Nebraska, Maya moved to Minneapolis to study Sociology at the University of Minnesota. During her time as a college student, Maya served as the Vice President and Recruitment Coordinator of the University of Minnesota sailing team. She also worked as a research assistant for the Sociology department and conducted her own research on support services for English Language Learner (ELL) students. Through this and a study abroad program in Senegal, Maya developed a passion for hands-on work to promote equity in education.

Since graduating in 2019, Maya has worked in a variety of roles supporting students. She served as a Student Success Coach with City Year Kansas City, taught sixth-grade English for two years, and worked as a College Access Coach with College Possible Chicago. Now, Maya is thrilled to join the CHANCE Program and support our mission to recruit and retain underrepresented students to higher education. She believes that when presented with resources and opportunities, all students can develop the skills needed to pursue their interests and succeed in college and beyond.

Outside of work, Maya enjoys biking, camping, reading, and going to concerts. She also has a goal to visit every U.S. state and has been to 37 so far!

Current UIC students can click here to schedule a meeting with Maya.

Brian Todd currently serves as Program Coordinator for The CHANCE Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In this role, Mr. Todd offers supplemental staffing and logistical support for many of the program operations, including Lead Coordinator of the Summer STEM Academy (SA) Program for UIC, first-year, engineering students.

A native Southsider and proud Chicagoan, Mr. Todd is a product of Chicago Public Schools and has been involved with The CHANCE Program since 2016 serving in a variety of roles including Academic Advisor and Program Specialist. As a first-generation college student, he carries that experience into every encounter with a CHANCE Student.

Mr. Todd holds an Associate’s in Business Administration from Parkland College, a Bachelor’s in Finance from THE North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and a Master’s in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management. Mr. Todd has extensive experience in healthcare and relationship management and enjoys volunteering in the community and helping the underprivileged whenever possible. Mr. Todd enjoys the game of chess, DIY and home improvement projects, live music, and sporting events.

Dayane Padilla is a recent graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), where she studied Biological Sciences and Public Health with a minor in Disability and Human Development. She is set to pursue her master’s at UIC this upcoming fall.

Dayane has worked as a L@S GANAS Research Fellow, focusing on increasing physical activity among Latinos in the Chicagoland area. Additionally, she has worked as a medical assistant at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, specializing in dermatology and gastroenterology for the past three years.

She co-founded Mujeres En Medicina, an organization created to support first-generation and Latino students pursuing careers in healthcare within the UIC community. She served as the president for two years. The organization provided opportunities for career advancement, such as volunteering, mentoring, professional development, and community service, while building a community of like-minded and passionate individuals.

As a first-generation college student, Dayane is passionate about supporting and empowering students to achieve their academic goals. She is committed to continuing this support through her involvement with CHANCE, helping students navigate their academic journeys. Her ultimate goal is to become a physician dedicated to working with Latino and minority populations to address healthcare disparities.

Outside of school and work, Dayane enjoys running, working out, painting, and reading. She loves coffee and boba and is the captain of an intramural soccer team on campus. Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, Dayane has spent most of her life in Chicago, Illinois.

Joy is a Sophomore Computer Science student from Delta State, Nigeria, but was born in Chicago, Illinois. Joy strives to be dynamic and hopes to inspire others. Besides enjoying a good laugh, she is deeply passionate about helping people and making an impact through her work with CHANCE. A fun fact about Joy is that she once had a pet monkey!