JOLIET — Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees plan to interview 18 applicants this week and fill two vacant board seats in October.
Board trustees spent time Thursday in a special meeting narrowing down from about 50 applications to fewer than 20 finalists. Of those, two will be chosen to fill seats of former Board Chairwoman Tina Markley and Trustee Barb Adams, both of whom unexpectedly resigned.
Markley criticized other board trustees before leaving while Adams gave no explanation.
“We discussed a lot and we’re going to interview 18 people next Tuesday and Thursday,” Board Chairman Robert Wunderlich said.
This past Tuesday, trustees unanimously approved former trustee Daniel O'Connell to fill the seat of former Board Chairman Jeff May, who resigned in July for health reasons.
Special meetings have been scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday. Trustees plan to interview candidates in closed session.
Wunderlich said anyone who applied and wasn’t picked is still eligible for Markley’s and Adams’ seats. He said there are some candidates from the first round of applicants who are among the 18 who will be interviewed.
Many candidates come from towns in Will and Grundy counties, according to applications obtained by a Freedom of Information Act Request sent by Shaw Media to JCC.
Among those who applied include former Channahon Village President Joe Cook and Lincoln-Way High School District 210 board member Christopher McFadden. He previously served on the Frankfort School District 157-C school board.
“I have tremendous respect for JJC and the work of its faculty and staff. My mother — the first in her family to attend college — earned more than 45 credits from JJC before obtaining undergraduate and graduate degrees elsewhere,” he stated in his letter of intent.
Several current and former JJC employees have applied for a spot on the board.
They include Alicia Morales, who was a JJC financial aid adviser from 1997 to 2001; Ronald Wojcik, a current adjunct professor; and Donna Theimer, a former horticulture professor and department chairwoman.
Former trustee Susan Klen, as well as Diane Harris and Michael Venegas – all who ran in the April 7 elections and lost – also applied. Former trustee Barbara Newberg put in her application as well.
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2015 Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Applicants
• Anthony Arellano
• Nancy Bartels
• Theresa Berkey
• Tim Borchert
• Robert Bodach
• Gideon Blustein
• Timothy Bradley
• Mike Clark
• Joe Cook
• Michael Cornale
• Noreen Coyan
• Patricia Dieters
• Wenora Farrell
• Robert Fronek
• George Gaspar
• Fred Giocolo Jr.
• Kenneth Brett Gould
• Sally Guilbo
• Doreen Harlow
• Diane Harris
• Debra Jo Kinsella
• Susan M. Klen
• David Latimore
• Lillian Lester
• Deborah Lisy
• Michael Mason
• Christopher McFadden
• Dennis McGann
• Alicia Morales
• James Murphy
• Barbara Newberg
• Roderick Padilla
• Gregory Peerbolte
• Lonnie Posley
• Pamela Robbins
• Edward Shannon
• Jared Taylor
• Donna Theimer
• Rason Truss
• Beatriz Ulloa-Mireles
• Michael Venegas
• Jeffrey Vickery
• Betty Washington
• Jack Westphall
• Kennard Whitfield
• Patrick White
• Ronald Wojcik
• Damon Zdunich
Source: FOIA request sent by Shaw Media to Joliet Junior College