Leadership
Inspector General Will Fletcher
Will Fletcher was appointed Inspector General for the Board of Education in June 2020. He returned to CPS OIG after previously serving as its deputy inspector general. Prior to his current appointment, Will was the Inspector General of the Chicago Park District for five years and an Assistant Inspector General at the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General.
Previously, Will served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General’s Special Litigation Bureau and General Counsel for the Chicago Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards (now the Civilian Office of Police Accountability), a civilian investigative unit that reviewed allegations of police misconduct, including excessive force and police-involved shootings. Will has also practiced law as a litigation attorney at Jenner & Block and served as a judicial clerk to the Hon. Blanche M. Manning in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
In January of 2023, Will became President of the Association of Inspectors General, an international organization of more than 2,000 members dedicated to promoting the mission of independent and effective government oversight. From 2016 to 2020, Will was President of the Illinois Chapter of the AIG. For several years, Will has been an Instructor at AIG’s national Certified Inspector General and Certified Inspector General – Investigator Institutes.
Will graduated from Northwestern University (B.S.) and Columbia Law School (J.D.)
Will Fletcher was appointed Inspector General for the Board of Education in June 2020. He returned to CPS OIG after previously serving as its deputy inspector general. Prior to his current appointment, Will was the Inspector General of the Chicago Park District for five years and an Assistant Inspector General at the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General.
Previously, Will served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General’s Special Litigation Bureau and General Counsel for the Chicago Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards (now the Civilian Office of Police Accountability), a civilian investigative unit that reviewed allegations of police misconduct, including excessive force and police-involved shootings. Will has also practiced law as a litigation attorney at Jenner & Block and served as a judicial clerk to the Hon. Blanche M. Manning in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
In January of 2023, Will became President of the Association of Inspectors General, an international organization of more than 2,000 members dedicated to promoting the mission of independent and effective government oversight. From 2016 to 2020, Will was President of the Illinois Chapter of the AIG. For several years, Will has been an Instructor at AIG’s national Certified Inspector General and Certified Inspector General – Investigator Institutes.
Will graduated from Northwestern University (B.S.) and Columbia Law School (J.D.)
General Investigations
Deputy Inspector General Philip Wagenknecht
Philip Wagenknecht has been with the Office of Inspector General since 2015. He is an AIG Certified Inspector General. During his tenure with the office, he helped oversee the formation of the OIG’s Performance Analysis Unit and Sexual Allegations Unit, while continuing the mission of the office’s general investigative work. He also is an appointed member of the Task Force to Make Sexual and Severe Physical Abuse Fully Extinct ("Make S.A.F.E. Task Force"), a State of Illinois legislative initiative that examined the best practices for preventing and responding to sexual abuse in schools and recommended legal and institutional changes to better protect students.
Prior to joining the OIG, he served as a judicial clerk to the Hon. William E. Cassady in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama and practiced law with a boutique firm, where he litigated cases involving breaches of fiduciary duty, ethical violations and fraud, among other matters. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois, as well.
Philip Wagenknecht has been with the Office of Inspector General since 2015. He is an AIG Certified Inspector General. During his tenure with the office, he helped oversee the formation of the OIG’s Performance Analysis Unit and Sexual Allegations Unit, while continuing the mission of the office’s general investigative work. He also is an appointed member of the Task Force to Make Sexual and Severe Physical Abuse Fully Extinct ("Make S.A.F.E. Task Force"), a State of Illinois legislative initiative that examined the best practices for preventing and responding to sexual abuse in schools and recommended legal and institutional changes to better protect students.
Prior to joining the OIG, he served as a judicial clerk to the Hon. William E. Cassady in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama and practiced law with a boutique firm, where he litigated cases involving breaches of fiduciary duty, ethical violations and fraud, among other matters. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois, as well.
Chief Investigator Daria Dzura
Daria has worked in public service since 1991. She has been a Chief Investigator for the Board of Education Office of Inspector General's Office in 2016. Daria is a decorated veteran of the United States Army Military Police Corps, and served as a Special Agent for the Criminal Investigation Division. Working investigations from homicides, the Oklahoma Federal Building bombing, to seizing over five million dollars of drugs at Fort Riley, Kansas, to working in protective service for the Secretary of Defense.
Daria also spent 17 years with the City of Chicago Inspector General's office working a variety of criminal and administrative investigations.
Daria has worked in public service since 1991. She has been a Chief Investigator for the Board of Education Office of Inspector General's Office in 2016. Daria is a decorated veteran of the United States Army Military Police Corps, and served as a Special Agent for the Criminal Investigation Division. Working investigations from homicides, the Oklahoma Federal Building bombing, to seizing over five million dollars of drugs at Fort Riley, Kansas, to working in protective service for the Secretary of Defense.
Daria also spent 17 years with the City of Chicago Inspector General's office working a variety of criminal and administrative investigations.
Assistant Inspector General Joseph Ptasinski
Joseph Ptasinski joined the office in 2018 and serves as an assistant inspector general providing legal support for OIG investigations and performance reviews. Joseph previously worked as an attorney in private practice litigating cases involving misappropriation of assets, fraud, and breaches of fiduciary duty. Joseph is a Certified Fraud Examiner and received his BA from the University of Notre Dame and JD from the Northwestern University School of Law.
Joseph Ptasinski joined the office in 2018 and serves as an assistant inspector general providing legal support for OIG investigations and performance reviews. Joseph previously worked as an attorney in private practice litigating cases involving misappropriation of assets, fraud, and breaches of fiduciary duty. Joseph is a Certified Fraud Examiner and received his BA from the University of Notre Dame and JD from the Northwestern University School of Law.
Assistant Inspector General Nicholas Infusino
Nick Infusino joined the office as an Assistant Inspector General in General Investigations in 2021. Nick provides legal guidance throughout investigations, participates in investigatory interviews, and drafts final summary reports for completed cases. Nick previously served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the City of Chicago, Department of Law from 2015 to 2021, where he litigated employee misconduct cases before the Chicago Police Board and Human Resources Board, responded to discrimination complaints filed at the EEOC, IDHR, and CCHR, and served as a subject matter expert on employee military leave and pay laws. Nick earned a BA in History and Political Science from Northwestern University and a JD from Loyola University Chicago.
Nick Infusino joined the office as an Assistant Inspector General in General Investigations in 2021. Nick provides legal guidance throughout investigations, participates in investigatory interviews, and drafts final summary reports for completed cases. Nick previously served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the City of Chicago, Department of Law from 2015 to 2021, where he litigated employee misconduct cases before the Chicago Police Board and Human Resources Board, responded to discrimination complaints filed at the EEOC, IDHR, and CCHR, and served as a subject matter expert on employee military leave and pay laws. Nick earned a BA in History and Political Science from Northwestern University and a JD from Loyola University Chicago.
Sexual Allegations Unit
Deputy Inspector General Amber Nesbitt
Amber Nesbitt is the Deputy Inspector General for the OIG’s Sexual Allegations Unit, charged with investigating allegations of CPS-affiliated adult-on-student sexual misconduct. She was one of three employees in the SAU when it first began taking complaints in October 2018, and has helped grow the unit to the robust investigatory team that exists today. Prior to joining the OIG, Amber was a longtime litigator and partner at a boutique law firm, with a practice that represented employees, consumers, shareholders, and others in high-stakes antitrust, employment/discrimination, and consumer fraud litigation. She also served as General Counsel for three affiliated companies managing all legal needs on a wide variety of matters, ranging from regulatory compliance to employment discrimination matters. Amber is a proud CPS graduate who obtained her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her J.D. magna cum laude from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Amber Nesbitt is the Deputy Inspector General for the OIG’s Sexual Allegations Unit, charged with investigating allegations of CPS-affiliated adult-on-student sexual misconduct. She was one of three employees in the SAU when it first began taking complaints in October 2018, and has helped grow the unit to the robust investigatory team that exists today. Prior to joining the OIG, Amber was a longtime litigator and partner at a boutique law firm, with a practice that represented employees, consumers, shareholders, and others in high-stakes antitrust, employment/discrimination, and consumer fraud litigation. She also served as General Counsel for three affiliated companies managing all legal needs on a wide variety of matters, ranging from regulatory compliance to employment discrimination matters. Amber is a proud CPS graduate who obtained her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her J.D. magna cum laude from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Chief Investigator Maiesha Thomas
Maiesha Thomas is a Chief Investigator for the OIG's Sexual Allegations Unit. She joined the OIG as a Senior Investigator in 2021. As a Chief Investigator, Maiesha manages a team of investigators in their mission to investigate adult-on-student sexual misconduct allegations. Prior to joining the OIG, Maiesha prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases as an Assistant State's Attorney with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office for over a decade. Maiesha holds a B.A. in Africana Studies and Politics from New York University and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Maiesha Thomas is a Chief Investigator for the OIG's Sexual Allegations Unit. She joined the OIG as a Senior Investigator in 2021. As a Chief Investigator, Maiesha manages a team of investigators in their mission to investigate adult-on-student sexual misconduct allegations. Prior to joining the OIG, Maiesha prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases as an Assistant State's Attorney with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office for over a decade. Maiesha holds a B.A. in Africana Studies and Politics from New York University and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Chief Investigator Amy Liss
Amy Liss joined the OIG's Sexual Allegations Unit at its inception in 2018. She is currently a Chief Investigator, and supports a team of investigators in their mission to investigate allegations of staff-on-student sexual assault and harassment. Previously, Amy taught at the KoGuan School of Law in Shanghai, China, and published articles in the International Journal of Criminal Justice, including her thesis on Chinese Criminal Procedure and Law. Amy was also a Chicago Police Officer, Court-Appointed Special Advocate for foster children, and participant in the Child Life program at the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center. Amy has a B.S. in Psychology and an M.A in Criminal Justice, both from the University of Illinois.
Amy Liss joined the OIG's Sexual Allegations Unit at its inception in 2018. She is currently a Chief Investigator, and supports a team of investigators in their mission to investigate allegations of staff-on-student sexual assault and harassment. Previously, Amy taught at the KoGuan School of Law in Shanghai, China, and published articles in the International Journal of Criminal Justice, including her thesis on Chinese Criminal Procedure and Law. Amy was also a Chicago Police Officer, Court-Appointed Special Advocate for foster children, and participant in the Child Life program at the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center. Amy has a B.S. in Psychology and an M.A in Criminal Justice, both from the University of Illinois.
Chief Investigator Angelika Tryba
Angelika Tryba is a Chief Investigator for the OIG's Sexual Allegations Unit. Angelika manages a team of investigators handling adult-on-student sexual misconduct allegations. She joined the OIG as an Investigator in 2015, working cases for the General Investigations Unit, and joined the SAU when it was founded in 2018. Angelika has a B.A. in Criminal Justice and a B.S. in Accounting from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale.
Angelika Tryba is a Chief Investigator for the OIG's Sexual Allegations Unit. Angelika manages a team of investigators handling adult-on-student sexual misconduct allegations. She joined the OIG as an Investigator in 2015, working cases for the General Investigations Unit, and joined the SAU when it was founded in 2018. Angelika has a B.A. in Criminal Justice and a B.S. in Accounting from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale.
Assistant Inspector General Matthew Schmidt
Matthew Schmidt joined the OIG as an Assistant Inspector General in the Sexual Allegations Unit in 2021. As an AIG, Schmidt collaboratively manages a team of Staff Attorneys and provides counsel on various legal issues. Schmidt graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2011. From 2012 to 2014, Schmidt served as an appellate prosecutor for the Illinois Office of the States' Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor and represented the state in criminal appeals and termination of parental rights appeals. Schmidt then served as a law clerk for the Hon. John W. Darrah of the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 2014 to 2017, where he assisted in managing a docket of over 400 cases, performed legal research, and drafted opinions and orders on a variety of federal and state law issues. For the three years prior to joining the OIG, Schmidt was an associate attorney at Pedersen & Houpt, P.C. with a focus on commercial litigation.
Matthew Schmidt joined the OIG as an Assistant Inspector General in the Sexual Allegations Unit in 2021. As an AIG, Schmidt collaboratively manages a team of Staff Attorneys and provides counsel on various legal issues. Schmidt graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2011. From 2012 to 2014, Schmidt served as an appellate prosecutor for the Illinois Office of the States' Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor and represented the state in criminal appeals and termination of parental rights appeals. Schmidt then served as a law clerk for the Hon. John W. Darrah of the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 2014 to 2017, where he assisted in managing a docket of over 400 cases, performed legal research, and drafted opinions and orders on a variety of federal and state law issues. For the three years prior to joining the OIG, Schmidt was an associate attorney at Pedersen & Houpt, P.C. with a focus on commercial litigation.
Assistant Inspector General Christina Guarisco
Christina Guarisco is an Assistant Inspector General in the Sexual Allegations Unit. She joined the OIG as a Staff Attorney in 2022. As an AIG, Christina collaboratively manages a team of Staff Attorneys and provides legal counsel for SAU matters. Christina graduated cum laude from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2010. From 2010 to 2022, Christina was an editor at a legal education company, where she wrote and edited test preparation materials for state bar exams, law school exams, the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination, and the Solicitors Qualifying Examination in England and Wales. She also served as a subject matter expert on evidence law and legal ethics.
Christina Guarisco is an Assistant Inspector General in the Sexual Allegations Unit. She joined the OIG as a Staff Attorney in 2022. As an AIG, Christina collaboratively manages a team of Staff Attorneys and provides legal counsel for SAU matters. Christina graduated cum laude from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2010. From 2010 to 2022, Christina was an editor at a legal education company, where she wrote and edited test preparation materials for state bar exams, law school exams, the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination, and the Solicitors Qualifying Examination in England and Wales. She also served as a subject matter expert on evidence law and legal ethics.
Performance Analysis Unit
Chief Performance Analyst Rosalind Rossi
As chief performance analyst for the CPS Inspector General, Rosalind Rossi heads the IG’s Performance Analysis Section, which uses data analysis and performance reviews to make recommendations about improving CPS programs and processes. Rossi joined the IG’s Office following a distinguished career at the Chicago Sun-Times. As the newspaper’s education reporter, Rossi’s many awards include the Education Writers Association’s national first-place award for education beat reporting, the Associated Press’s statewide first-place award for investigative reporting and the Chicago Headline Club’s Lisagor Award for education reporting. During her many years at the Sun-Times, Rossi covered the federal, appellate and Cook County Criminal courts as well as the Transportation beat, was a member of the paper’s investigative Watchdogs team and served as an editorial writer for the Sun-Times Editorial Board. She also taught journalism courses on Covering the Courts at Columbia College. Rossi earned a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University, where she majored in education.
As chief performance analyst for the CPS Inspector General, Rosalind Rossi heads the IG’s Performance Analysis Section, which uses data analysis and performance reviews to make recommendations about improving CPS programs and processes. Rossi joined the IG’s Office following a distinguished career at the Chicago Sun-Times. As the newspaper’s education reporter, Rossi’s many awards include the Education Writers Association’s national first-place award for education beat reporting, the Associated Press’s statewide first-place award for investigative reporting and the Chicago Headline Club’s Lisagor Award for education reporting. During her many years at the Sun-Times, Rossi covered the federal, appellate and Cook County Criminal courts as well as the Transportation beat, was a member of the paper’s investigative Watchdogs team and served as an editorial writer for the Sun-Times Editorial Board. She also taught journalism courses on Covering the Courts at Columbia College. Rossi earned a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University, where she majored in education.