Illinois e-News Release

Jennifer Hansen will continue to serve as a Member of the Children and Family Services Advisory Council.* Hansen is a founding partner with the law firm Hansen & Cleary, LLC. She focuses her practice in the areas of special education law, mental health law, probate and guardianship matters, criminal and civil litigation for juveniles and adults, bullying investigations, and domestic relations matters as a Guardian ad Litem, Child’s Representative, and/or Attorney for the Child. Hansen also represents select public and private schools and provides consultative services to schools and institutions in the areas of bullying investigations, employment investigations, and legislative support. In addition, she represents mental health providers, practitioners, and agencies in the areas of mental health law and confidentiality, IDFPR matters, and contractual issues. Hansen previously co-taught school law classes for master’s level students through Aurora University and psychiatry and the law classes to UIC psychiatry fellows. Prior to forming Hansen & Cleary, LLC, she was a partner with Whitted Takiff + Hansen, LLC and an attorney with the Lake County Public Defender’s Office. Hansen obtained her Bachelor of Arts from Carthage College, Juris Doctor from the University of Wyoming, and a LL.M. in European and Comparative Law from the Universiteit Maastricht in the Netherlands.

Sara Phalen will serve as a Member of the Illinois State Museum Board.* Phalen brings over fifteen years of museum coordination and curator experience. She currently serves as the Managing President of Phalen Consulting, and Director and Curator at Warrenville Historical Museum and Art Museum. She also serves as Director, Registrar and Education Coordinator with the City of West Chicago Museum. Phalen volunteers her museum expertise with the Kane DuPage Regional Museum Association, People Made Visible, Illinois Association of Museums, and the Mexican Cultural Center DuPage. Phalen received two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Illinois, a Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University, and a Master of Arts from North Park University.