The Illinois Board of Higher Education consists of 16 members as follows: 10 public members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, one of which must
be a faculty member at an Illinois public university; one member of a public university governing board appointed by the Governor; one member of a private college or
university board of trustees appointed by the Governor; the chairman of the Illinois Community College Board; the chairman of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission;
and two student members selected by the Student Advisory Committee of the Board of Higher Education, one must be a non-traditional undergraduate student who is at least
24 years old. The Governor shall designate the Chairman of the Board to serve until a successor is designated.
Tom Cross - Board Chair, Public Member
Professional - Distinguished Fellow, Aurora University
Graduate - Illinois Wesleyan University; Samford University, Cumberland School of Law
Home - Oswego
John Bambenek - Ex Officio Member representing the Chair of the Illinois Community College Board
Professional - President of Bambenek Consulting, Ltd.
Graduate - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Home - Champaign
Jay D. Bergman - Public Member
Professional - President and CEO, Petco Petroleum Corporation of Hinsdale
Graduate - Illinois State University
Home - Joliet
Max Coffey - Public Member
Professional - President & CEO, Kimco USA Inc.
Home - Charleston
Meredith Daw - Representative of Private Universities
Professional - Associate Vice President, Enrollment and Student Advancement, University of Chicago
Graduate - University of Illinois and University of Pennyslvania
Home - Winnetka
Sherry Eagle - Representative of Public Universities
Professional - Executive Director Institute for Collaboration, Aurora University
Graduate - University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Chicago and Northern Illinois University
Home - Chicago
Jane Hays - Public Member
Professional - Managing Director for The Downey Group
Graduate - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and University of Illinois College of Law
Home - Champaign
Alice Marie Jacobs - Public Member
Professional - President Emerita, Danville Area Community College
Graduate - Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, Louisburg College, North Carolina
Home - Bismarck
Cherilyn Murer - Public Member
Professional - Past President and CEO, Murer Consultants
Graduate - Lewis University and Northern Illinois University Law School
Home - Downers Grove
Santos Rivera - Public Member
Professional - Emeritus Senior Executive, NEIU
Graduate - Aurora College, Northeastern Illinois University, The Union Institute Graduate School
Home - Chicago
Darlene Ruscitti - Public Member
Professional - Superintendent of Schools, DuPage Regional Office of Education
Graduate - Northeastern Illinois University and Loyola University
Home - Bloomingdale
Jack Thomas - Public Member
Professional - President, Western Illinois University
Graduate - Alabama A & M University; Virginia State University; Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Home - Macomb
Eric Zarnikow - Ex Officio Member representing the Chair of the Illinois Students Assistance Commission
Professional - Executive Director, Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Graduate - Iowa State University; Drake University
Home - Buffalo Grove
Emily Buice - Student Board Member
Student : Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Major : History and Public Relations
Home - Tallassee, Alabama
Truong (Jack) Luu - Non-traditional Student Board Member
Student : Heartland Community College
Major : Information Systems
Home - Vietnam