Board member Rick Marlow has stepped down from his seat effective Jan. 6 in order to return to the classroom on an adjunct basis. With time as a student, employee and board member combined, Marlow has been involved with Rend Lake College for more than 30 years. He retired in 2006 from a position as a full-time architecture professor. He ran for the board and was elected to an unexpired two-year term in 2009, and later was reelected to a six-year term. Marlow said he plans to return to the classroom teaching architecture as a part-time instructor, and is stepping down from the board in order to do so and avoid any conflict of interest. Board Chair Eric Black read Marlow's resignation letter to the board, and publicly thanked Marlow for his lengthy service to RLC.
The board granted permission to create the job description and advertise for a Career Services Specialist. The position is necessary to support the college's emphasis on student success through improved persistence, retention and completion efforts. This person will assist students with their career and curriculum pathways, and also will help the Institutional Research Department with reporting and data collection.
Tommy Holder was appointed an Academic Advisor effective Jan. 16. As part of the action, the job description also was revised. The position previously was held by Tony Etnier, who also held duties as a baseball coach. Holder currently serves as associate head basketball coach. These duties are now included in the job description. Holder currently works as a part-time recruiter and advisor for RLC. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and an Associate in Science Degree from RLC.
Marli Choate was appointed Health Studies Support Coordinator effective Jan. 11. She holds a Master of Health Science Degree with a specialization in mental health from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, as well as two degrees from Eastern Illinois University, a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies.
The board ratified the appointment of Lynn Salesberry as a temporary full-time Nursing Instructor effective Jan. 6. The move was made due to the resignation of Nicole Haney. Salesberry has more than 25 years of clinical experience and most recently served as a registered nurse at Heartland Regional Medical Center. She is scheduled to complete her Master's Degree in Nursing Education from South University in March.
The board granted permission to create the position and approve the job description for the Coordinator of the Rend Lake College MarketPlace, and transferred Whitney Waldman to that position from her previous position of Administrative Assistant for the RLC MarketPlace, effective Jan. 16. The action better suits the needs and duties for the MarketPlace. Waldman holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration and has the skills needed to be successful in the position.
The board accepted with regret the resignation of Nicole Haney, Nursing Associate Professor, effective Jan. 13. She had been with RLC full-time since August 2011. "Thank you very much for the opportunities for professional and personal development that you have provided me for more than five years," Haney wrote in her resignation letter. "I will miss the amazing colleagues I have been fortunate to know at Rend Lake College."