OGLESBY – Illinois Valley Community College’s agriculture, industrial maintenance, welding and nursing programs will receive an infusion of new instructional talent this fall following Thursday’s board meeting.
Trustees approved the hiring of Kathryn Lillie, a recent graduate of the University of Illinois’s master’s program in crop science, as an ag instructor to work alongside program coordinator Willard Mott.
At the U of I, Lillie was a graduate teaching assistant and graduate research assistant in the Weed Molecular Biology and Genomics Lab. She interned for BASF in Germany and Illinois.
Stephen Gibson will teach industrial maintenance and electricity. He has a bachelor’s in industrial electricity from Illinois State and an AAS in electronics technology and a certificate in industrial electricity from IVCC. He worked 14 years as a maintenance/electrical technician.
IVCC’s welding program will be led by American Welding Society certified inspector and educator Anthony Sondgeroth. Praised as a “skilled welder, fabricator and leader with experience as a part-time welding instructor and program coordinator,” he also has years of industry experience.
Amber Robertson, who has her MSN and BSN and is a graduate of IVCC’s nursing program, was hired as a nursing instructor. Robertson has worked seven years as an RN for OSF and was already teaching part-time at IVCC.
Last month, trustees approved Richard Marko as automotive technology instructor.
“I could not be happier with these additions. These instructors bring industry experience, high-energy, passion and innovative ideas to IVCC,” said IVCC President Corcoran, who meets with full-time faculty candidates before their appointments go to the board.
