Dr. Sherry Reynolds Whitaker also has experience in financial analysis, business management, and school administration. Prior to accepting the role at CBED, she worked at PAEC 803 as Business Manager/ (CSBO) ---a special education cooperative; as a Chief School Business Official (CSBO) for Hillside SD 93, East ST. Louis SD 189 and Lyons SD 103, Assistant Director of Finance at CUSD 308, intern business manager and served as a regional consultant for the Illinois State Board of Education.

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She has also worked as a project manager for OfficeMax, a cost accounting manager for Bankers Life & Casualty, and has also held various accounting/leadership positions for corporations such as: Sprint PCS, CB Richard 
Ellis, CNA Insurance and IBM.

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She is currently an Adjunct Faculty at Olivet Nazarene University and Loyola University Chicago and has enjoyed sharing the knowledge gained through these professional experiences with her students. She has spent the last 15 years working on education and career development initiatives in the community and is dedicated to diversity work in United States and the surrounding countries.

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Originally from rural West Virginia, Sherry has spent over 30 years in Illinois, where she has established herself as a seasoned professional in her field. Her transition into education began over a decade ago when she decided to pursue a doctorate in adult and higher education. This decision was driven by her passion for career development, particularly in supporting African American male teachers. 

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Sherry teaches CPST 371: Organizational Finance, a course focused on business and finance, where she brings her extensive real-world experience as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to the classroom. Her career has spanned various roles, including working with K-12 school districts across Illinois and serving as a regional consultant for the Illinois State Board of Education.  

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“I've been teaching CPST 371 for the last three years. It's been a really great experience. The students are always willing to learn, and they teach me as well. I give them 35 plus background of being in the field.” 

Along with her extensive experience in leadership, Sherry focused her doctoral studies on career development, which has been invaluable in her current work, especially in recruiting and curriculum development for educational programs.

 

.She is committed to helping her students achieve their goals, whether that means understanding complex financial statements or navigating the intricacies of employee benefits. 

 

“Whatever I learn, I want to pass it on. I've always been that person. I want to share the learnings because knowledge is power, but it's even more powerful when you can share it.”