Olney, Ill. -- Illinois Eastern Community Colleges seated its new Board of Trustees on April 27. The Board also recognized Dr. Andy Fischer for his time on the board. Fischer, who also served as the Chairman of the Board for many years, announced his decision to not seek re-election late last year.
“Dr. Fischer has been an excellent chair for the IECC Board of Trustees,” says Chancellor Dr. Ryan Gower. “I don’t know if people fully appreciate how much work goes into serving in this capacity. Dr. Fischer was a steady hand that helped lead IECC through both good and difficult periods. He is a person of great vision and integrity, and we will miss his voice and leadership on our board.”
Five candidates, Jan Ridgely, Barb Shimer, Roger Browning, Brady Waldrop, and Jeffrey Cutchin sought election for three seats on the Board. Incumbents Ridgely and Shimer were re-elected, and Waldrop won the third seat. There were only 72 votes that separated the second-leading vote-getter and the fourth leading vote-getter.
“This race, like many at the state and national level, indicates how important it is for citizens to engage the process and vote,” says Gower.
In addition to Waldrop, a new Student Trustee joined the Board at April’s meeting. Sania Borom is from Wabash Valley College. “I wanted to run for the Student Trustee position because I wanted the students attending IECC to have the best opportunities and receive a good education, says Borom. “I am hoping to add new ideas and beneficial feedback for what the students at IECC need.”
“New voices and new perspectives are going to be important as we navigate the changes ahead,” says Gower. “Higher education, our resources, the needs of our students, and the needs of area employers, are changing rapidly. We have to keep pace. I believe Mr. Waldrop and Ms. Borom, as an attorney and a student, will each have unique opinions and viewpoints that will help us as we change and grow.”
The Board elected Gary Carter as its new Chairman. “Gary is an entrepreneur. His background in business and his connections in our communities made him an excellent choice to serve as our new chairman,” says Gower. “Higher education needs to think differently about how we achieve our mission. Chairman Carter understands that, and I believe he will challenge us to find new ways to work more efficiently and more effectively.” Trustee Brenda Culver was elected to serve as the Vice-Chair of the Board.
In addition to Carter, Ridgely, Shimer, Waldrop, Culver and Borom, John Brooks, and Alan Henager also serve as Trustees.
