Michael (Mike) Shoudy is the Executive Director of the Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA). The IEA-NEA is the state’s largest union which represents 135,000 education employees and retirees. Prior to that, he was the Executive Director of the Michigan Education Association (MEA).

Mike started his career as an attorney and shareholder with the White Schneider law firm in Lansing, Michigan, where he represented MEA, its locals, and its members in a variety of legal matters. After 14 years in private practice, he continued his advocacy for educators as the General Counsel of the MEA.

A strong believer in public education, Mike graduated from public schools in Fulton County, Georgia, and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor degree from Michigan State University. He served as an adjunct professor for six years at Cooley Law School, where he taught collective bargaining and workplace and employment discrimination law. Mike and his husband, Ryan, live in Chicago with their French bulldog, Lucy.