Board of Trustees

JJC is directly governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees, all of whom are elected from within the district for six-year terms.

Illinois Community College District 525 is one of 39 community college districts governed by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) under the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE).

The ICCB was created by the General Assembly under the provisions of the Illinois Public Junior College Act of 1965. Its primary responsibilities are to coordinate the educational programs offered through the community college system, to allocate state funding for capital expansion, and to act on curriculum changes proposed by individual community colleges.

JJC is directly governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees, all of whom are elected from within the district for six-year terms. A student representative, appointed annually, is a non-voting member of the Board. The officers of the Board are chairman, vice chairman and secretary, all of whom are elected by their peers for two-year terms.

Board Members

James Budzinski, Chairman

• Term: 2021-2027
• Residence: New Lenox, IL
• Public Act 99-0692 training - completed (year 3)
• Open Meetings Act training - completed
   

Nancy Garcia Guillen, Vice-Chair

• Term: 2025-2031
• Residence: Romeoville, IL
• Public Act 99-0692 training -
• Open Meetings Act training - completed
  

Elaine Bottomley - Secretary

• Term: 2025-2031
• Residence: Joliet, IL
• Public Act 99-0692 training -
• Open Meetings Act training -
   

Maureen Broderick

• Term: 2025-2031
• Residence: New Lenox, IL
• Public Act 99-0692 training -
• Open Meetings Act training – completed
  

Diane Harris

• Term: 2023-2029
• Residence: Joliet, IL
• Public Act 99-0692 training - completed (year 1)
• Open Meetings Act training – completed
   

Michelle Lee

• Term: 2021-2027
• Residence: Joliet, IL
• Public Act 99-0692 training - completed (year 3)
• Open Meetings Act training – completed
  

Alicia Morales, Vice-Chair

• Term: 2023-2029
• Residence: Joliet, IL
• Public Act 99-0692 training - completed (year 1)
• Open Meetings Act training – completed
  

Brenton Bishop, Student Trustee

• Term: April 2025-April 2026
• Residence: Joliet, IL
• Public Act 99-0692 training -
• Open Meetings Act training - completed

To contact JJC trustees, please email trustees@jjc.edu. 

• Regular meetings begin at 5:30p.m.
• Meetings typically take place in the Board Room (A-3104) on Main Campus (1215 Houbolt Road, Joliet, IL 60431)

A Message from Chairman Budzinski

In August 2024 the JJC Board of Trustee engaged an external law firm, Laner Muchin, to investigate reports from employees of incivility and a hostile working environment created one or more members of the JJC Board of Trustees.

At the end of their investigation Laner Muchin submitted their executive summary and final report in late February. The Board voted in a special meeting on March 5, 2025 to release the executive summary to the public. Names and some details in this summary were redacted to protect the privacy of those interviewed.

This summary is being released because accountability exists across the College and it extends to the Trustees in their governing roles. Those who participated in this process have my gratitude and appreciation for what was undoubtedly a difficult conversation. Know that as we move forward, I remain committed to ensuring an atmosphere of trust, respect, equity and fairness.

-Jim Budzinski, Chairman 

Laner Muchin Executive Summary