Eddie Kornegay | Executive Director of the Center for Poverty Solutions

Eddie Kornegay, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Center for Poverty Solutions at the Illinois Policy Institute. He oversees and directs the formation of partnerships with direct service organizations to exchange ideas about the best ways to empower people to overcome poverty. He also works with groups to advocate for the policy solutions that will alleviate poverty. Dr. Kornegay brings to the center over 28 years of experience in urban ministry and community organizing.

Prior to his work at the institute, Dr. Kornegay served as the dean of continuing education and professional development at the Joseph Business School and as the director of R.I.S.E., an innovative pre- and post-release reentry program that provides practical skills training and mentoring at the Cook County Jail and Illinois Department of Corrections facilities, as well as running expungement clinics nationwide. He also taught and mentored weekly inside the supermax and maximum security divisions at the Cook County Jail.

Dr. Kornegay earned his bachelor’s degree in English from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University, his master of divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, master of sacred theology degree from Chicago Theological Seminary, and his Ph.D. in theology, ethics, culture and human science from Chicago Theological Seminary. He is also certified in full stack software development.

Dr. Kornegay proudly served in the United States Marine Corps.

He is married with four children and lives in Forest Park, Illinois.