Welcome Leslie Darling, Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Dear SAIC and Art Institute of Chicago Faculty and Staff,

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Leslie Darling as executive vice president and general counsel. Leslie’s appointment will fill the vacancy left by former Executive Vice President and General Counsel Julie Getzels. Leslie will begin her position here on January 6, 2020.
 
Leslie has extensive experience managing diverse legal issues in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. She most recently served as the chief executive officer of the Chicago Infrastructure Trust (CIT), where she oversaw the strategic planning and implementation of innovative and complex infrastructure projects for the City of Chicago. Prior to her role at CIT, she served as first assistant corporation counsel for the City of Chicago Department of Law, where she led 14 legal divisions comprising 250 attorneys managing the City of Chicago’s legal business. She provided strategic advice to elected officials and department heads on legal, legislative, and policy matters. Before joining the City of Chicago Department of Law, Leslie was in private practice as a partner at Ungaretti & Harris LLP and an associate at Mayer Brown. Leslie holds a Juris Doctor from DePaul University and a Bachelor’s of Science from Bradley University.

We are delighted that Leslie is joining the Art Institute of Chicago and are confident that she will be a great addition to our outstanding Central Administration team. We are very grateful to our entire legal team and, in particular, Maria Simon, who has provided exceptional leadership as she served as interim general counsel.

Please join us in welcoming Leslie.

Elissa Tenny
President
School of the Art Institute of Chicago

James Rondeau
President and Eloise W. Martin Director
The Art Institute of Chicago