Maryfran H. Leno

Distinguished Alumni Award Honoree

Maryfran H. Leno 
Executive Director 
Itasca Park District 

Maryfran H. Leno represents the rare professional who has devoted almost an entire career – in her case, nearly 32 years – to a single organization. Leno started her full-time parks and recreation career in 1994 with the Itasca Park District and has led the district for the past 21 years as executive director.

Leno has secured more than $5.5 million in grants and managed close to $30 million in capital projects. The district has been awarded numerous prestigious honors and Leno received the Illinois Park and Recreation Association Young Professional of the Year and the 2024 Women in Parks & Recreation World Changer Award.

This career was not the one Leno imagined as a high school student, when she had wanted to become a pharmacist. She was admitted to Purdue University but couldn’t cover the costs. It was too late for other applications.

“Harper was my only choice,” she said. “My first semester, I was not happy with Harper, with staying home and not going away – and my grades showed it!”

She studied liberal arts with the intention of becoming a teacher. “During my oral communications and education classes, I started turning a new leaf,” Leno said. She got involved as a Harper cheerleader and made new friends. She transferred to and then graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, majoring in political science with a minor in communication. 

Leno briefly held a position with Scholastic Testing Services, Inc., but had kept her part-time position with the Arlington Heights Park District (AHPD). “I began to realize maybe I should look into parks and recreation,” she said. Leno continues to be involved with her hometown park district today, serving as an elected official since 2001 for the AHPD Board of Commissioners. She has been president of the board the last 20 years and in 2021, was honored by the Illinois Association of Park Districts with the prestigious Mike Cassidy Commissioner Community Service Award. It recognizes an individual’s outstanding qualities to support and promote parks, recreation and conservation.

Leno’s most memorable experience came from partnering with Jewel-Osco to host 20 COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the Itasca Park District Recreation Center. “Our focus was on providing a location for elderly, youth and those with disabilities,” she said. “We removed all barriers.” The Itasca site ultimately delivered 15,000 vaccinations.

Leno looks back at her time at Harper and knows it was destiny to begin her life’s work there. “Once I finally felt committed to attending what is a great institution and earn my associate degree, I was able to transfer to a four-year university and not graduate broke!” she said. “I’ve never regretted my decision.”