Heartland Board seats Student Trustee

The Heartland Community College Board of Trustees has seated a new member to represent students in District 540. 

Rodney Billerbeck took the Oath of Office and was seated as Student Trustee during the regular meeting of the Board on April 19, 2022. 

Billerbeck was elected to be the student representative on the College’s governing Board earlier this month in student elections. He joins Graham Baner (President), Hunter Roedell (Executive VP), and Zoe Steinkoenig (VP of Communications) as 2022-2023 HCC Student Government Association (SGA) officers. SGA offices are elected by Heartland Community College students. 

Billerbeck will have a unique experience on the Board as he will benefit from mentorship by a former Student Trustee who is now an elected full Board member. 

Joshua Crockett was elected to a six-year term as a full Trustee by a district-wide vote in April of 2021. Crockett is a graduate student at Illinois State University, where he transferred after graduating from Heartland in 2019. He had previously served a one-year term as a Heartland Student Trustee, elected by the College student body. 

“Hearing the student voice is an integral component of college governance, and the Student Trustee plays an important role in ensuring the needs and priorities of every Heartland Hawk are heard,” said Crockett. “I cannot wait to get to know and work with Rodney, who will make an outstanding Student Trustee as he and the entirety of SGA push student priorities forward.” 

The Student Board Member will hold privileges of membership, including the right to make and second motions and attend executive sessions. As a non-voting member the Student Trustee is not considered in determining a quorum for Board action. 

Billerbeck fills the expiring term vacated by Katie Boland who served two terms as Student Trustee. Boland is set to graduate Heartland this spring and plans to transfer Illinois State University.