CHICAGO, September 29, 2022 – Matthew Glavin, a member in Cozen O’Connor’s Public Strategies Group, has been named to the board of Youth Guidance, a Chicago-based organization specializing in social-emotional learning, counseling, and educational support for students in Chicago-area schools. His three-year term is effective immediately.
“Our Youth Guidance board of directors is a vital group of leaders from Chicago’s business, civic and philanthropic community,” said Michelle Morrison, CEO of Youth Guidance. ”We are thrilled to have Matt join our board and leverage his professional experience and expertise to enhance opportunities for the youth we currently serve, as well as alumni of our programs.”
“I am so honored to be able to join the board of Youth Guidance. The organization continues to make a dramatic difference in the lives of thousands of youth in Chicago and across the country,” said Glavin. ”I’m very excited to use my experience as an attorney, in state government, and as a government relations professional in helping Youth Guidance continue its important work.”
Since joining Cozen O’Connor in 2019, Glavin has helped drive the expansion of its Chicago-based government relations and public affairs practice, helping clients navigate the complex legislative and regulatory landscape in Illinois.
Working with Cozen O’Connor’s offices in Washington D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia, he has also led client efforts with their government affairs. His clients are in a wide range of industries, including sports and entertainment, gaming, health care, energy, utilities, and technology.
“Matt successfully balances a thriving government relations practice in our Public Strategies group, a pro bono legal practice, and various charitable endeavors,” said Jeremy Glenn, managing partner of Cozen O’Connor’s Chicago office. “We are proud of Matt as he works to enhance educational opportunities for Chicago-area students in his latest volunteer role on the board of Youth Guidance.”
Before joining Cozen O’Connor, Glavin served as the national director of government affairs for American Water, overseeing legislative and regulatory policy in 47 states for the largest privately owned water utility in the country.
Prior to joining American Water, Glavin held a number of high-level state government positions under former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, including director of the Illinois Office of Business Development and chief of staff for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Earlier in his career, he served as deputy press secretary for U.S Senator Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois.
As part of his pro-bono practice, Glavin lobbies on behalf of the Juvenile Justice Initiative, a nonprofit, non-partisan statewide advocacy organization working to transform the juvenile justice system in Illinois.
He also serves on the Loyola University Chicago Law Alumni Board of Governors. The 30-member Board advocates for the law school and its members act as advisors to the School of Law Office of Alumni Relations and Development and to the Dean of the School of Law.
In addition, he formerly served as a board member for a number of Illinois-based organizations, including Equality Illinois, the state's largest LGBTQ organization, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the Institute for Regulated Policy Studies, and on the Board of Advisors for the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association.
Glavin earned his J.D. (cum laude, 2009) at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and his B.A. in political science (2001) at Illinois Wesleyan University. A native of Park Ridge, Illinois, he currently resides in Oak Park, Illinois.
About Youth Guidance
Youth Guidance creates and implements school-based programs that enable children to overcome obstacles, focus on their education and to succeed in school and in life. Youth Guidance sees a bright and successful future for every elementary and high school student. Because we believe that success in school is not only possible but should be achieved and celebrated, we are present in the schools to facilitate an environment that truly engages students in the learning process, and through careful guidance, enables them to realize their full potential and graduate with a meaningful plan for successfully managing life. Headquartered in Chicago, Youth Guidance was founded in 1924 as the Church Mission of Help and originally formed to assist girls in need of shelter, clothing, medical care, financial help, legal assistance, and educational/vocational opportunities.
About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans across numerous industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has more than 825 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor services its clients’ needs through 32 offices across two continents.