Wil Del Pilar assumes Board Chair position; Douglas E. Wood to remain on Board
The Partnership for College Completion (PCC) announces the appointment of Wil Del Pilar, Ph.D., as Board Chair effective May 13, 2026. Dr. Del Pilar succeeds Dr. Douglas E. Wood, who will transition from the role of Board Chair and continue serving as a Board member. In addition, the Board elected Matthew Muench, Founder of Lucerra Impact Advisory, to a two-year term as Vice Chair.
The Board leadership transition comes at an important time for PCC, as the organization celebrates its 10th anniversary throughout 2026 and prepares to debut its new strategic plan later in the year.
“This leadership transition reflects our ongoing commitment to strong governance, strategic continuity, and long-term mission advancement, especially as we reflect on the last decade and readies for the future of higher education in Illinois,” said PCC Executive Director Kyle Southern, Ph.D. “I thank Douglas for his leadership throughout his time as Board Chair, and I look forward to working with Wil to enhance PCC’s influence in Illinois and beyond.”
Dr. Del Pilar has been a PCC Board member since April 2023, and was named Chair of the Development Committee as part of his term when he joined. He is Senior Vice President at EdTrust, spearheading the organization’s mission to highlight inequities and outline solutions in order to improve access, success, affordability, and completion in higher education for low-income students and students of color.
Dr. Del Pilar holds a doctorate from The Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree from California State University-Dominguez Hills, and a bachelor’s degree from Chapman University.
“I look forward to working collaboratively as Board Chair alongside such a dedicated board and staff to advance PCC’s mission to address disparities in college access and the widening racial and socioeconomic gaps in college degree completion,” Dr. Del Pilar said. “Douglas’ leadership has helped position PCC for continued success, and I am grateful for the strong foundation he built.”
Dr. Wood joined the PCC Board in April 2019 and has served as Board Chair since October 2022. His leadership and mentorship helped move PCC from a startup nonprofit to a nationally-recognized leading voice for racial and socioeconomic equity in Illinois higher education. His collaborative stewardship helped position PCC as a trusted partner, a driving force in state policy, and a champion for students.
Dr. Wood is Director of the Aspen Institute’s Criminal Justice Reform Initiative (CJRI), which he launched in 2019 based in part on his years of work on criminal justice issues at the Ford Foundation. Dr. Wood holds a bachelor’s degree from Wofford College, a master’s degree from Middlebury College, and master’s and doctoral degrees from Harvard University.
Dr. Wood will remain actively engaged as a member of the Board, continuing to provide institutional knowledge and strategic guidance as the organization advances into its next chapter.
“It has been a privilege to serve as PCC’s Board Chair and to work alongside such passionate and committed leaders. I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished together and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the organization’s mission. I look forward to continuing my service on the Board and supporting Wil in this next chapter of leadership,” Dr. Wood said.