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January 29, 2013

Community Foundation Announced New, Retiring Members of Mattoon Advisory Board

(L-R) James Hull and Bill Elliott

The Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation board of directors recently appointed James Hull and Bill Elliott to three year terms on the Mattoon Area Community Foundation Advisory Board.

James R. Hull, Ph.D., is Vice President for Academic Services, Lake Land College in Mattoon, which includes responsibilities for all facets of education at the college. Dr. Hull holds a Bachelor Degree in Marketing from SIUC, a Master of Business Administration from SIUE, and Ph.D. in Workforce Education and Development from SIUC. He began his tenure with Lake Land College in July, 2008, after serving in a similar capacity at Rend Lake College in Ina, Illinois, where he served six years as Vice President for Instruction. Dr. Hull has served the communities in which he has lived in various capacities throughout his career. He has been very active in economic development activities as well as industrial retention and attraction. Dr. Hull has also been actively involved with the Foundations of the community colleges at which he has served.

Bill Elliott is Assistant Dean of The Graduate School, Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Mr. Elliott has worked in higher education for the past 17 years in administrative and teaching roles at EIU and Lake Land College. In his current position, he is responsible for oversight of both graduate and international student admissions. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from EIU and has resided in Coles County for the past 25 years.

According to Scott Lensink, chair of the regional community foundation and a member of the Mattoon Area Community Foundation advisory board, “I am very pleased to welcome these individuals to MACF. They are both active leaders involved in many projects in their local communities and their professional expertise and community knowledge will be a great asset to the local foundations.”

Sherri Branson and Diana Smith were also recognized for completing their service on the Mattoon Area Community Foundation advisory board. “Sherri and Diana have done a great job of supporting the mission of the Mattoon Area Community Foundation and were actively involved in the organization’s growth to over $2 million in charitable assets,” Lensink added.

Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation was established in 1999 as a result of a partnership between the Mattoon Area Community Foundation (est. 1990) and the Effingham County Community Foundation (est. 1999). Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation operates as a collection of permanent and non-permanent funds for the long-term benefit of Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland and Shelby counties. Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation currently manages approximately $13.5 million in charitable assets for the greater good of Southeastern Illinois.

Additional information regarding the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation may be obtained from Joedy Hightower at (217) 235-2500

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