One Illinois State University sociology alumnus will hand the reins of a local non-profit to another alumna.
Peter Rankaitis
Lisa Thompson
Peter Rankaitis ’74 ’98, who founded Project Oz in 1973, is leaving the Bloomington-based youth services organization on October 15. Project Oz’s board of directors selected Lisa Thompson ’96 ’02, the organization’s vice president of operations, as the next executive director.
Rankaitis is the founder and sole executive director of an organization that helps at-risk youth avoid the criminal justice system is retiring after 45 years. Thompson, 44, Bloomington, began with Project Oz in 1995 and has been vice president of operations for the past 11 years.
Project Oz programs include 24/7 emergency response for youth runaways and their families in crisis in McLean and Livingston counties. Last year, that program served 240 youth and families in McLean County.
Read more about the transition in an article in The Pantagraph.
