Prairie State Legal Services Announces Interim Executive Director

Linda Rothnagel to lead organization starting March 1

Prairie State Legal Services announced that Linda Rothnagel has been named Interim Executive Director effective March 1. The decision is part of a transition plan by the Board of Directors to find a permanent successor after Mike O’Connor announced his resignation in late August 2021.

Rothnagel has served as Prairie State’s Director of Advocacy Training and Volunteer Services since January 2008. She previously supervised Prairie State’s Waukegan office for 22 years and the Ottawa office for two years. Her experience includes representation of clients in a variety of family law, housing, foreclosure, consumer, Social Security, and public benefits matters; she has handled cases at the state and federal trial court levels, at the state appellate court level, and before numerous administrative agencies. Rothnagel’s current job duties have been delegated to other staff to move into this temporary role.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to support Prairie State Legal Services during this time of transition, and to work in collaboration with the board, staff, and volunteers to continue our work while the organization secures new leadership,” Rothnagel said.

“As the Director of Training for many years, Linda is the perfect person to lead the organization through this transition as we complete the interview process for a new executive director,” said Steven Greeley, President of Prairie State Legal Services Board of Directors. “Linda has been one of the top leaders and advocates for Prairie State for decades and will be able to assimilate into this role seamlessly.”

As Prairie State prepares for O’Connor’s departure, executive recruiting firm Anchor Advisors continues to develop a strong pool of candidates to find the organization’s next executive director.