1650 Commerce Drive Bourbonnais IL 60914
Marilu Andon, M.Ed., serves as County Director for University of Illinois Extension in Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties. In this role, she is responsible for building community relationships and providing overall leadership to the Unit as Illinois Extension continues to promote Lifelong Learning, which translates into Lifelong Impact locally.
Fluent in English and Spanish, Andon is primarily responsible for maintaining partnerships with stakeholders, legislators, and donors throughout the communities she serves. She is also responsible for overseeing the tri-county Unit, including personnel, financials, programming, and facilities management.
Having worked for Illinois Extension since 1993, Andon has served in a variety of positions throughout her Extension career, including office support, early college outreach program coordinator, immigration educator, and 4-H youth development educator.
Andon enjoys interacting directly with 4-H youth and their families, and she constantly ranks these interactions amongst her most rewarding:
“It is exciting to observe the broader impact of 4-H programming within the community. Witnessing this impact is deeply rewarding and reinforces my ongoing commitment to understanding and responding to the evolving needs of the communities we serve.”
Previously a 4-H youth development educator, Andon’s most significant achievement is Juntos 4-H, a program she led during her tenure in Cook County that empowers Hispanic and Latino families with the knowledge needed to complete high school and pursue postsecondary opportunities. Through this work, Andon cultivated relationships with parents and caregivers, many of whom continue to seek guidance on career pathways and scholarship opportunities.
Outside of her work with Extension, Andon enjoys reading, hiking, running, and exercising. In her free time, she can often be found enjoying nature or traveling.
Education
- M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership, University of Illinois Chicago
- MBA with a Minor in Human Resources, Keller Graduate School of Management
Certifications
Andon is a certified facilitator in:
- Real Colors
- Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue
- Racial Healing Circles