NEW CHIEF AND DEPUTY CHIEF OF
COMMUNICATIONS APPOINTED AT DCFS

CHICAGO, IL, JULY 24, 1997 --lIllinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Jess McDonald announced today new appointments in the Office of Communications. Maudlyne lhejirika will be the Chief of Communications in the Chicago office, located in the James R. Thompson Building at 100 W. Randolph St. Ihejirika joins DCFS after working as a reporter for 10 years with the Chicago Sun-Times. Her most recent positions held at the paper include weekend city editor, foundations and nonprofits reporter, and housing and social policies reporter. Prior to that she worked as a reporter with the Des Moines Register in Iowa.
Ihejirika, who graduated cum laude from the University of Iowa, holds a Bachelors degree in Journalism and a Masters degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Chris Welch will serve as the Deputy Chief of Communications, also based in Chicago. Welch most recently worked as a weekend assignment editor at WGN-TV. His experience also includes serving as press secretary for the Citizens for Jack O'Malley and interim deputy press secretary for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. Welch recently received his Juris Doctorate degree from John Marshall Law School. He also holds a Bachelors degree in Communication Studies from Northwestern University.

"I am pleased to welcome Ms. lhejirika and Mr. Welch to the agency," said Director McDonald. " They are clearly two people whose combined experience will allow us to continue in the development of a positive and productive relationship with the media as well as the public."

Martha Allen, who has served as the DCFS Chief of Communications for the last four years, will continue to serve in that role and as Press Secretary for the Department of Human Services until the new appointments become effective the week of August 11.

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