Michael Neil

Michael Neil believes deeply in the impact a caring adult can have on a child's life. As University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development Educator, Metro, he is committed to creating educational opportunities that extend beyond curriculum excellence—spaces where inclusion, respect, and belonging are foundational. Michael fosters curiosity, encourages students to discover their voice, and supports them in becoming independent thinkers and empathetic leaders.

At the core of Michael’s teaching philosophy is the belief that every young person deserves to be seen, heard, and valued. Neil views education as a collaborative journey, where students are empowered to ask questions, explore their interests, and take ownership of their learning. Michael strives to create environments where mistakes are embraced as part of growth, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and each learner feels confident stepping into their fullest potential.

Neil joined Cook County Extension in 2014 and has served as program coordinator supporting STEM, 4-H Youth Development, and Social and Emotional Learning teams. During that time, Michael co-created a mentoring program for pre-teen males and developed an introduction-to-science series for elementary school youth.

Neil has demonstrated success working both individually and in a group. His marketing efforts increased the number of activities and programs delivered for all of the teams he has served. As part of the 4-H Youth Development team, Michael received a team award for increasing traditional 4-H club membership.

While at Extension, Neil has served on the following committees: Extension Strategic Planning Steering, Council on Governmental and External Relations, Communications and Information Technology, Cook County Volunteer Management, MarCom Better Together Planning, and regional and local employee search committees.   

In addition to his time at Extension, Michael has worked as a grant writer, program coordinator, workforce development instructor in the nonprofit sector, and a proposal writer for a consulting firm.

Neil has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in management with an English minor from University of Illinois Chicago. Michael is also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma (International Business Honor Society).