Jesse Ruiz elected board chair; trustees reelect officers and delegate signatory authority
Loading...
Summary
At its January meeting, the University of Illinois Board of Trustees elected Trustee Jesse Ruiz as chair, chose two executive committee members and reelected key officers. The board also approved delegation of signature authority to the chair and board secretary.
The University of Illinois System Board of Trustees elected Trustee Jesse Ruiz as chair at its Jan. 23, 2025, meeting and approved a slate of officers and administrative delegations needed to conduct system business.
The vote followed a voice nomination by Trustee Ray Cepeda, who said he nominated Ruiz citing Ruiz’s prior service on the board and experience as Illinois Deputy Governor for Education. “I would like to nominate Jesse Ruiz as chair of the board of trustees,” Cepeda said. The board voted by voice; “The ayes have it,” the chair declared after members voted in favor.
The board also elected two members to the executive committee in voice votes: Trustee Ray Cepeda and Trustee Tammy Craig Schilling. Trustees Jeffrey Stein (secretary), Paul Ellinger (controller), and Scott Rice (university counsel) were reelected to their respective offices on motions the board took as a group. Lester H. McKeever Jr. was reelected treasurer to a two‑year term.
The board approved a resolution delegating signatory authority to Chair Jesse Ruiz and Secretary Jeffrey A. Stein to validate university documents. Trustee Ray Cepeda moved the delegation resolution and it was seconded and approved by voice vote.
These administrative elections and delegations were handled as the annual organizational business under the board’s bylaws and consistent with the Illinois Open Meetings Act and Robert’s Rules of Order, the chair explained during the meeting. Trustees conducted the votes publicly per the Open Meetings Act; the chair noted that the board typically uses voice votes for officer elections but can use a show of hands if needed.
Votes at a glance (selected outcomes recorded in meeting minutes): - Election: Jesse Ruiz, Chair — approved by voice vote. - Executive committee members: Ray Cepeda and Tammy Craig Schilling — approved by voice vote. - Secretary: Jeffrey Stein; Controller: Paul Ellinger; University Counsel: Scott Rice — approved by motion and voice vote. - Treasurer: Lester H. McKeever Jr. — reelected to a two‑year term by voice vote. - Delegation of signatures to Chair Ruiz and Secretary Stein — approved by voice vote.
The board moved on after the organizational votes to the day’s agenda and committee reports.
Ending: The organizational actions set officers and delegated authority needed to sign university documents and to proceed with the system’s calendar of meetings and business for 2025.
