Joyce Simon

Joyce Simon, AB '68, MBA '75, joined Chicago’s John G. Shedd Aquarium in 1992 as its first CFO. In her role, Simon is responsible for treasury, financial planning and reporting, enterprise-wide risk management, and accounting functions as well as technology, purchasing, and continuous improvement. Since coming to the aquarium, Simon has overseen several public bond issuances in support of major capital renovations and expansion programs. Additionally, she has worked with bankers and rating agencies to obtain a stand-alone rating for the aquarium—one of the few cultural institutions to be so recognized. Simon also serves as the secretary-treasurer of the Shedd Aquarium Society, the nonprofit corporation that owns and operates the aquarium. Prior to joining the aquarium, Simon was a partner with Ernst & Young, where she was involved in numerous initial public offerings, debt and equity public offerings, private placements, and swaps for clients across a variety of industries. In a previous life, she was a social worker working at Cook County Hospital and the North Lawndale area of Chicago. Simon is an active participant in professional and nonprofit organizations. She has held volunteer leadership positions with the American Woman’s Society of Certified Public Accountants, the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago, the Illinois CPA Society, Chicago Finance Exchange, and the Illinois Spina Bifida Society. Currently, Simon is the treasurer of the International Women’s Forum – Chicago and is active in the Chicago Network. Additionally, Simon sits on the board of directors of a publicly owned community bank holding company. Simon and her husband, Douglas Emde, have two adult children and live in the Tri-Taylor area of Chicago.