First Assistant Deputy Gov. Ryan Croke Honored with 2025 IARF Champion Award

Bloomington, IL — Illinois First Assistant Deputy Governor Ryan Croke has been named a 2025 IARF Champion Award recipient, recognized for his decades-long commitment to advancing human services and supporting Illinois’ intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) system. The award was presented at IARF’s annual Educational Conference & Expo in Bloomington-Normal last week.

IARF President Josh Evans noted Croke’s role in helping secure wage increases for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). “Deputy Governor Croke has always been a champion for human services throughout his career and helped lead the charge on securing additional funds for the state’s I/DD system during the Appropriations process. His leadership translated into major wins for DSPs, persons with I/DD, and disability services in Illinois,” Evans said.

Croke’s career spans leadership roles at the University of Illinois Springfield, where he served as Assistant Chancellor and adjunct faculty, and as Executive Director of the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living. He later became Chief of Staff at the Illinois Department of Human Services before joining the Governor’s Office. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Croke and his wife Brook live in Springfield, where they are raising four children.

“The work that DSPs do is necessary, important, and life-changing,” he said. “I am deeply honored to have been recognized by IARF, but the real credit belongs to people with disabilities, their families, and the organizations like IARF who work every day to improve our state. I look forward to working closely with IARF and other advocates to bring dignity and progress to communities across Illinois. People with I/DD deserve all the same tools and resources that we want for our family members, friends, and neighbors in Illinois.”

The 2025 IARF conference convened more than 350 leaders, clinicians, and professionals from across Illinois, highlighting the importance of strong community-based supports.

In addition to Croke, State Representative Christopher “C.D.” Davidsmeyer, Representative Laura Faver Dias, and Senator Adriane Johnson were also honored with the 2025 IARF Champion Award for their legislative leadership and advocacy.