Recipients of tenure were awarded across the disciplines of art, agriculture, chemistry, criminal justice and nursing.
The Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees announced, Wednesday, Feb. 19, the awarding of tenure status to five instructors, tuition and fee increase, in conjunction to strides IVCC has taken within the community.
Dr. Jonathon Hubbell, program coordinator and criminal justice professor, earned a Ph.D in Higher Education Administration, a master’s degree in Criminal Justice and was a former probation officer and supervisor. Dr. Hubbell has been an active member and active participant in IVCC community related development.
Lirim Neziroski, Interim Dean of Natural Sciences and Business stated, “to attend one of Jon’s classes means one will be involved in active learning. He regularly checks for understanding of material and enjoys his professional interactions with students, both during and outside of class.”
Dr. Hubbel has provided students an encouraging and active learning environment through means of the Criminal Justice Association, assistance of recruitment or internships with local and state law enforcement, and provided CRJ students the opportunity to work with the Peru Police Department to test a simulator with real life police simulations.
Sara Legrenzi, nursing instructor, is an IVCC alumni and has a master’s degree in nursing education. While teaching at IVCC, Legrenzi has taken the role of lead instructor for the mental health portion of the program and has created hands-on, real-world simulations to better prepare nursing students for the future.
A student evaluation said, “Sara is the most organized person I have ever met! I could not have asked for a better clinical instructor.”
Beyond the classroom, Legrenzi has a history of community involvement including youth programs, athletics, community service, professional organizations and continued education, further demonstrating her commitment to nursing and student success.
Heather Segi, Dean of Health Professions said, “Sarah Legrenzi is a dedicated and exceptional nursing instructor here at IVCC. Her teaching excellence is evident through her outstanding student peer evaluations emphasizing her ability to engage and inspire our future nurses. She has also made significant contributions to curriculum development, accreditation efforts and faculty hiring.”
Dr. Camden Parks, chemistry professor, has a doctorate in chemistry and a master’s degree in Education.
Neziroski stated, “Camden has a love for chemistry and his ability to engage students in class. Camden often uses models, he writes on the board and he shows online videos to help students visualize chemical compounds.”
Outside of class, Dr. Parks has served on the Emeritus Committee and the Accessibility Committee. Dr. Parks has also updated and revised course outlines of chemistry. He is active in community service with Cat rescue animal shelters. As a photographer, he puts together cat calendars which he sells for fundraising for the shelters.
Shannon Slaight-Brown, art instructor, is a three-time IVCC alumni, and has a master’s degree in fine arts (MFA) and specializes in ceramics and artworks in clay materials.
Neziroski stated, “Shannon has a distinctive ability to provide individual guidance and feedback to students in studio art classes.”
Slaight-Brown has also been very involved outside of the classroom. She has helped with the Day of the Dead display, the Syrian Art display, the IVCC High School art display, the Student Art Club Explore IVCC, and Spirit Day.
Slaight-Brown has organized materials in the art studio, identified equipment to repair and replace, keeps open lab hours for students, and she helps with budgeting. Slaight-Brown is also a practicing artist, and you can see some of her artworks in the entrance area downstairs.
Jennifer Timmers, Ag Program instructor and co-program coordinator. She has a master’s in Agriculture and Natural Resources and a Ph.D in Agronomy.
Neziroski stated, “Jennifer engages students and promotes active participation in lecture and lab courses. Jennifer has successfully recruited women into the Ag Program and she has taken students to a conference.”
Timmers is a master gardener with the Illinois Extension center and a member of several organizations in her field.
The Board will consider additional tenure recommendations next month.
In other news:
The Board of Trustees authorized a tuition and standard fees increase of 4.3 percent, totalling $6 per credit hour, effective summer semester 2025. The current combined amount for standard fees and tuition per credit hour is $140. With the approved increase, the total per credit hour will total $146 per credit hour.
The board approved the appointments of Laura Pleiss, library technical services specialist; Keturah Haferkamp, English instructor; and Lydia Huey, student services information specialist.
Five professionals were awarded emerita/emeritus status by the Board of Trustees: Mary Sue Myers, faculty emerita; Dr. Mary Margaret Weeg, faculty emerita; Gene Montgomery, adjunct faculty emeritus; Jeanne Hayden, staff emerita; and Lou Borio, administrator emeritus.
In other action, the board:
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- Approved technology upgrades for the CTC conference center, kitchen, and yoga studio.
- Approved furniture for distant learning classrooms.
- Approved inactivations for basic and advanced dental office management certificate.
- Approved ECE director certificate qualified certificate.
- Approved Truck Driver program, two training simulators and software.
- Learned Eagles Peak Food Pantry saw an increase of serving more students and children between Oct. and Dec. 2024.
- Heard about updates to gym building.