After leading Geneva’s government operations for the past nine years, City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins will retire effective Friday, Aug. 15.
Dawkins has decided to retire to spend more time traveling with her husband and enjoy the next chapter in her life after working nearly three decades in the public sector, including the last 17 with the City of Geneva.
“It has been a deeply fulfilling experience to contribute to our shared mission of creating a place where people are excited to live, work and play,” Dawkins said. “Working alongside such committed colleagues has been a true honor, and I am grateful for the support, collaboration, and camaraderie we have shared. Over the years, I have witnessed and been a part of significant challenges and achievements within the City. These accomplishments are a testament to the collective dedication of our team.”
Recruitment for the City of Geneva’s next City Administrator will begin this spring. The City Administrator supervises all department heads, manages the day-to-day operations of the City government, and serves as budget officer, overseeing the preparation of annual budgets for the City Council’s approval.
Mayor Kevin Burns said Dawkins made many contributions to the City and the Geneva community.
“As chief administrative officer, Ms. Dawkins demonstrated unwavering professionalism, provided a steady hand to help the City achieve financial strength and business growth, fidelity to processes, elevated relationships with our governing partners, and helped steer Geneva into a new era of potential and promise,” Mayor Burns said.
Dawkins, an International City/County Management Association (ICMA) credentialed manager, was named Geneva’s City Administrator in 2016 after previously serving as Assistant City Administrator/Director of Administrative Services for eight years.
Under Dawkins’s leadership, even amidst the challenges of a recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, the City’s bond rating was upgraded to Aa1, the equalized assessed valuation increased by nearly 52% from a low in 2015 – leading to a lower tax levy rate – and General Fund reserves increased from covering less than one month of operations to more than six months. These improvements earned the City multiple financial accolades from the Government Finance Officers Association.
During her tenure, Dawkins served as the Kane County Municipal Representative and Legislative Chair with the Metro West Council of Government. She is a member of the ICMA and Illinois City/County Management Association (ILCMA) where she participated on various committees. She also served as a director on the Legacy Project board, advancing women in local government; on the Metropolitan Managers Association board; and on the Northern Illinois University Master of Public Administration (MPA) board of advisors.
Dawkins taught several courses for NIU’s MPA program, including Human Resource Management in Public Service Organizations and Public Administration and Law. In 2022, Dawkins was an honorary inductee to Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration and received the inaugural Gregory J. Bielawski Service to the Profession Award from ILCMA.
Prior to joining Geneva, Dawkins’ service to local government positions in Shawnee County, Kan.; Brighton, Colo.; Broward County, Fla.; and Merriam, Kan. She holds a Juris Doctor degree from Washburn University School of Law and a Master of Arts degree in industrial/organizational psychology from Appalachian State University. She was admitted to the Kansas Bar in 1997.