Gloria Bouxsein will assume her role as chair of health professions and director of nursing on June 5.

"I am excited and nervous," Bouxsein said. "Excited because it is a good job; nervous because there are a lot of obligations."

Her responsibilities will include correlating several different departments in the nursing program.

Dr. Harriet Custer, vice president of academic affairs, said, "I am really pleased with the recommendation. She (Bouxsein) has been on our faculty for three years and has done an excellent job of teaching.

"Bouxsein brings a lot of administrative experience," Custer said, noting she was manager of Dr. B. I. Padilla’s office prior to her employment at IVCC.

Bouxsein teaches fundamentals of nursing, holistic nursing and introduction to nutrition. She also is actively involved in the Global Ethics Fitness Team and is assistant director of the Skilled Nursing Association.

She received her Master’s in nursing from Lewis University, her Bachelor’s in health arts from St. Francis University and her registered nurse degree from Rockford Memorial Hospital School of Nursing.

In January, Bonnie Grusk announced her resignation as chair of the health professions and director of nursing.

The normal process was followed in advertising the position, Custer said. A selection committee was set up, which was chaired by Custer. Each of the candidates was ranked by each of the committee members.

Two candidates were invited for interviews; one candidate was internal and the other external. A formal interview was conducted and each candidate was invited to an open meeting with faculty and with Custer.