Our Team
SARAS CHUNG, PHD, MSW
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr. Saras Chung holds over three decades of experience in practice and research youth in schools, adolescent behavioral health hospitals, and youth development organizations. As a system dynamicist and social worker, she is interested in feedback cycles between healthy emotional and mental development and academic success.
Dr. Chung’s work has been published in both peer-reviewed and mainstream media, such as the Journal of Adolescence and HuffPost. She given plenaries and keynotes on the system dynamics of educational policies in both national and international conferences. She has conducted system dynamics consulting for Google, X (the Moonshot Company), St. Louis Children’s Services Fund, the Dartington Social Research Unit in the United Kingdom, and the Gates Foundation. Her work has been recognized with the Chris Harris Youth Advocacy Award from the Missouri State House of Representatives, the St. Louis Cortex Kineses Super Collaborator Award, and she was nominated for the 2020 LaunchCode’s Moonshot Challenge category. She has completed fellowships with the International Society for Child Indicators with funding through the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Asian Pacific-Islander Social Work Educators Association via the Council of Social Work Education, and the Washington University Social System Design Lab. Additionally, she serves as the Vice President of Professional Practice for the International System Dynamics Society. Dr. Chung is also part of the Society for Social Work Research and American Education Research Association.
Dr. Chung holds a doctorate and master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has two teens, enjoys running, mountain biking, and data analysis for fun.
ELLEN O’NEILL, MSW
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS
Ellen uses system design principles paired with her masters in social work to manage research and operations initiatives for SKIP. Prior to joining SKIP, Ellen served as the Children’s Savings Account Coordinator for the City of St. Louis Treasurer’s Office. During her tenure, Ellen ran the CSA program — College Kids — where she focused on equitable asset development for St. Louis students.
Ellen received her Master of Social Work degree in 2017 from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. During her time at the Brown School, Ellen worked on the Community Development Policy team at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, where she devised and conducted a community-based system dynamics study of underserved and unbanked communities. Additionally, Ellen has worked closely with Prosperity Connection, focusing on issues of financial health and well-being for underserved populations.
JANET VALESQUEZ
PROJECT ASSOCIATE
Janet is a recent graduate from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice which she plans on using to get involved with youth in the criminal justice system. During her educational career, Janet was part of the Changing System with the Brown School at Washington University. There, she was able to facilitate and mentor teens while taking a look at issues such as racial problems, gun violence, educational equity, and youth homelessness. Janet is passionate about giving back to her community by focusing on youth. She believes they are our future, which is why she is excited to be part of SKIP because its main goal is centered around youth. Outside of work, she loves to spend time with her daughter by doing anything and everything, especially going on picnics and reading books to each other. Lastly, Janet lives by the quote: “Be the change you seek to see in the world,” because she believes one cannot wait for others to take action when they themselves as capable of anything.
JIM FORST
SENIOR ADVISOR
Jim Forst is Senior Advisor to SKIP and an advocate for equity in education. He believes all parents should have options and every child has the right to a high quality educational opportunity regardless of their economic circumstances. Jim is a life-long St Louisan and has held executive development positions with five universities and two non-profits. Being involved with positive educational transitions and innovations in his home town as well as other cities through his association with SKIP colleagues and partners is his most rewarding professional experience and a true privilege.
DAVE HILLIARD
ADVISOR
For 41 years Dave served as CEO of WYMAN, where he helped create a continuously evolving, mission-driven culture. Long-serving board and leadership staff were his partners in outcome-based strategies to fulfill mission. During his tenure, WYMAN evolved from a local camp for underprivileged children into a national leader in adolescent development, leadership and learning that is recognized for its expertise in program design and delivery, outcome research and professional training. Dave has served on several university executive and advisory boards and as a founding member of collaborative regional efforts to improve and increase equitable opportunities for children and youth. He earned a degree in psychology from St. Louis University and holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Curators of the University of Missouri System. In retirement Dave continues to be inspired by this quotation from renowned cellist Pablo Casals’, which he first read in the 1970’s: “You do not lose your value or preciousness when you grow to be an adult. You are still that miraculous creation. You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children.”