Director of Research and Evaluation
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Chico Tillmon is dedicated to building strong communities that offer effective services and opportunities for people to thrive. As director of research and evaluation for TASC and its Center for Health and Justice (CHJ), Chico leads internal and external projects that collectively advance knowledge regarding evidence-based practice. Internally, evaluation efforts support TASC program planning, implementation, determination of effectiveness, and performance improvement. Externally through CHJ, Chico collaborates with research institutions and a wide variety of partners to conduct and disseminate research at the intersection of health and justice.

A recognized thought leader in violence prevention and trauma-informed care, Chico has provided extensive training and consulting throughout the United States. Prior to joining TASC in 2020, he served as executive director of Youth Safety and Violence Prevention at the YMCA of Metro Chicago from 2017 to 2019.

Chico has received numerous awards for his work to strengthen communities and prevent violence, including the 2018 Congressional Veterans Braintrust Award, 2017 Ford Men of Courage Award, and 2016 Richard H. Ward Award for criminal justice practice from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).

A veteran of the Illinois Air National Guard and member of the National Honor Society, Chico graduated summa cum laude with a BA in multi-/interdisciplinary studies from Northeastern Illinois University (NIEU). He earned his Master of Education (MEd) in inner city studies education from NIEU, and his PhD in criminology, law, and justice from UIC.