Press Release - Tuesday, July 15, 2025
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Sarah Kerley Honored with NASPE's Award for Leadership in State HR
Springfield, IL — The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) proudly announces that Sarah Kerley, Statewide Chief Administrative Officer, has been awarded the 2025 Eugene H. Rooney, Jr. Award for Leadership in State Human Resource Management by the National Association of State Personnel Executives (NASPE).
Kerley was recognized for her exceptional leadership in modernizing Illinois' human resource systems—replacing decades-old, paper-based processes with efficient, digital-first practices, while making State employment more inclusive, accessible, and attractive to a new generation of public servants.
"Sarah has updated and transformed how we recruit, hire, and retain talent across our state workforce," said Governor JB Pritzker. "This award is a well-deserved recognition of Sarah's outstanding leadership and service. Illinois is stronger because of her commitment to diversity, efficiency and innovation."
Kerley has helped the State achieve major workforce milestones, including:
• Increasing the total employee count from 50,544 in 2019 to 55,340 in 2025 — the highest number of state employees since 2008
• Reducing the vacancy rate for jobs at the State of Illinois from 14% in 2019 to 8% in 2025
• Reducing the hiring timeline from an average of 269 days in 2019 to 111 days in 2025 — a 58% reduction
"Sarah is the penultimate public servant. She understands the nuances of state government and has used that knowledge to transform how we recruit and retain talent in Illinois," said Raven A. DeVaughn, CMS Director. "From reforming the Personnel Code to launching our ‘Really Great Careers' campaign—which reached over 76 million people—Sarah has reshaped the state's approach to hiring with energy, creativity, and heart. I'm grateful to serve alongside her every day."
This is the second year in a row CMS has been recognized by NASPE, after CMS' Bureau of Operational Excellence received NASPE's Eva N. Santos Communication Award in 2024 for its work establishing and promoting the G.O.A.L. (Governor's Office Academy of Leadership) program. The Eugene H. Rooney, Jr. Award and the Eva N. Santos Communication Award are two of NASPE's most prestigious honors, celebrating excellence and innovation in state human resource management.
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