As President and CEO of the Ali Center, Marilyn Jackson oversees the day-to-day management of the organization, and leads its strategic planning, entrepreneurial revenue generation, partnership-building, and community engagement. She is responsible for advancing the Ali Center’s relevance and brand in the community and beyond. Ms. Jackson has more than 25 years of experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors, with 12 of those years at iconic Chicago cultural institutions. She spent six years as Director of Marketing for the Museum of Science and Industry and six years as Vice President of Marketing & Audience Strategy at the Chicago Architecture Center. In her tenure at the United Way of Metro Chicago, Jackson’s experience covered the areas of executive leadership, marketing and communications, programming, and donor engagement. She is skilled at translating data and market intelligence into actionable strategy, helping institutions grow their audiences and impact. In addition, she successfully led both the Chicago Architecture Center and United Way through a digital transformation enabling them to reach local, national, and international audiences on-site, at home, in school, or at work. Ms. Jackson received her Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing and Strategy from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Sociology from Cornell University, has received numerous industry awards, and is active in multiple professional and civic leadership organizations.