2024 Cougar Servant Leadership Awards

The Cougar Servant Leadership Awards are presented to leaders with tremendous dedication, exceptional service, and outstanding leadership that have helped transform Chicago and Illinois. The categories recognized are Education Equity, Public Service, and Alumni Achievement. A Corporate Champion Award is also presented to recognize our committed corporate partners transforming the lives of CSU students.

The following awardees will be honored at the annual 1stGEN Scholarship Gala: Accelerate, presented by United, on Friday, September 27, 2024. Get your tickets today!

Adkisson Cougar Servant Leadership Award

Congratulations to our Cougar Servant Leadership Awardee in Education Equity, John Atkinson, Managing Director & Chairman of Marsh Chicago.

As a recognized business leader in the insurance and human capital space, Atkinson has focused on building companies and teams to help organizations navigate complex business problems related to risk, people, and strategy. In his current role, Atkinson oversees one of Marsh's fastest-growing businesses in North America and serves as the Chairman of Marsh's Chicago office. He leads civic and community engagement for the firm and contributes to the growth of Marsh's business in the Midwest. Atkinson was recently tapped by Governor Pritzker to help lead economic development for the State of Illinois as Chairman of Intersect Illinois, the go-to resource for attracting and retaining business in Illinois. Until then, he served under Governor Pritzker as the Chairman of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), where he led the development of the state’s first Equity focused strategic plan for Illinois Higher Education, and Chairman of the State Universities Retirement System (SURS).

Atkinson also serves as co-chair of The Equity Working Group convened by Chicago State University alongside President "Z" Scott, State Senator Elgie Sims, and Karen Freeman-Wilson which is committed to recommending reforms that will improve Black student access to higher education. The Equity Working Group will generate solutions to achieve systemic and institutional change across education systems, community organizations, philanthropy, the private sector, and the State hoping to address systemic racism that shows up in policies, as well as knock down barriers that have prevented our system from serving students and families equitably. Atkinson has been exemplary in his passion and work in education equity, creating and nurturing diverse platforms and opportunities for students in Chicago to have access to equitable education.

More awardees will be announced here soon.