Ylanda D. Wilhite joined the Chicago Council on Science and Technology at the end of 2025 as the organization’s Program and Internships Manager.

She received her BA in Anthropology and Spanish from Illinois State University and obtained her Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Not-For-Profit Management from Lewis University. Before working at C2ST, Ylanda co-led the Field Museum’s Youth and Family Centered Conservation community of practice within the Keller Science Action Center. This community of practice established regional partnerships, recruitment, classroom and intern student activities, curriculum development, and professional development opportunities with formal and informal organizations.

Ylanda also worked at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, within the national park, as a Teacher Naturalist focusing on history and science themed programs.

Outside of C2ST, Ylanda is a Scientific Affiliate at the Field Museum who enjoys cleaning dinosaur bones and analyzing flowers.