E. David Ballard II, M.D.

Dr. E. David Ballard II is the former Sr. Vice President for Clinical Research, Medical Affairs and Pharmacovigilance for Santarus Inc, a specialty pharmaceutical company located in San Diego, California.  He retired in 2014 after a company acquisition.  Over the course of his 20-year pharmaceutical industry career, Dr. Ballard successfully brought multiple products to market along with supporting medical education and commercial launch efforts.  Prior to Dr. Ballard’s industry career, he practiced medicine for 10 years as a Gastroenterologist in Cincinnati Ohio.  He continues to serve as an advisor to senior management, Boards of Directors and cross-functional teams on business strategy for domestic and international clinical research and drug development.  

Dr. Ballard, a graduate of Morehouse College, received his medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio, and completed his specialist training in the field of Gastroenterology at the University of Cincinnati.

Linda A. Cunniningham-Ballard

Linda A. Cunningham-Ballard is a former journalist who spent most of her career as a news media specialist for Owens-Illinois Inc., the largest manufacturer of glass containers in the world, located in Toledo, Ohio.  Prior to that and while completing her undergraduate degree, she was Editor of The Community News, a bi-weekly newspaper for residents of the central Toledo area.  She later worked in the Public Relations Department at Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Ohio in Cincinnati.  She left that position after the birth of their second child to focus on her young children and to serve as the transcriptionist for Dr. Ballard’s new medical practice, a position she held until he changed careers.  She was also a freelance writer during this time.

Mrs. Ballard received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from The University of Toledo.

Jennifer M. Ballard-Croft

Jennifer Ballard-Croft is dedicated to providing women of color with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate law school and thrive in the legal profession. She currently serves as Chief of Staff and Chief Diversity Officer for Cook County State’s Attorney Office.

Prior to entering public service, Jennifer was a partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP where she focused her practice on supporting employers, human resources and in-house legal counsel with all aspects of workforce management. Her clients included large and small businesses, trade and professional associations, and state and local government organizations. Jennifer is experienced in all aspects of employment law, from day-to-day advice to complex employment litigation, as well as traditional labor law matters, including advising and representing employers during union organizing efforts, collective bargaining negotiations, strike preparation, grievance and labor arbitrations, and administrative hearings before the National Labor Relations Board.

In 2016, Jennifer was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court’s Committee on Character and Fitness. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Bar Foundation and the Center for Conflict Resolution. Additionally, Jennifer sits on the Leadership Advisory Board of City Church Chicago. Additionally, in 2016, WVON 1690AM and Ariel Investments named Jennifer to their “40 Under 40 Game Changers” list.

Jennifer earned her B.A. magna cum laude in Economics at Spelman College. She received her law degree with a certificate in Health Law from Loyola University School of Law.