The Board of Trustees of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) has elected a new slate of officers, including charter class alumnus Dr. Erin W. Roche as its chair.
IMSA BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTS OFFICERS, ROCHE NEW CHAIR
Aurora, IL, November 15, 2017 – The Board of Trustees of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) has elected a new slate of officers, including charter class alumnus Dr. Erin W. Roche as its chair.
The trustees also re-elected Dr. Paula Olszewski-Kubilius as first vice chair and tapped alumna Carey L. Mayer as second vice chair. The election marks the first time in IMSA’s 30-year history that two alumni have served in executive leadership roles concurrently.
“I am pleased to welcome our officers who are thought leaders and share insights that benefit IMSA in realizing our mission to ignite and nurture creative, ethical, scientific minds that advance the human condition,” said IMSA President Dr. José M. Torres.
Dr. Roche, who has served on the Board of Trustees since 2005, is principal of Prescott Magnet Cluster School, Chicago. He is a member of the Local Advisory Board to New Leaders for New Schools-Chicago, a national principal preparation program. Dr. Roche was a Fulbright Summer Scholar to Mexico and served with the Peace Corps in Honduras. He has also worked with the Chicago Public Schools to create Telpochcalli, a school dedicated to developing bilingual English/Spanish students.
“As a proud alumnus, I am looking forward to advancing the mission of IMSA and ensuring excellence in STEM innovation for generations to come," said Roche.
Dr. Roche is a graduate of IMSA’s charter class of 1989. He earned a M.A. in Education from the University of Illinois-Chicago and an Ed.D. in Leadership, Policy and Organizations from Vanderbilt University. He received a B.A. in Early Elementary Education from Knox College.
Dr. Olszewski-Kubilius, who has also served on the Board of Trustees since 2005, is director of the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University. She has designed and conducted supplementary, outside-of-school educational programs for learners of all ages. She is active in national and state level advocacy organizations for gifted children in the Midwest and is past president of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). Dr. Olszewski-Kubilius has taught psychology, research and talent development courses at National Louis, Northeastern Illinois and Northwestern Universities. She has conducted research and published extensively on issues of talent development, particularly the effects of accelerated educational programs and the needs of special populations of gifted children. She has also served as the editor of Gifted Child Quarterly, as a co-editor of the Journal of Secondary Gifted Education and on the editorial advisory boards of the Journal for the Education of the Gifted and Gifted Child International.
“IMSA is a beacon for STEM education because of its innovative curriculum and interactive outreach programs,” said Olszewski-Kubilius. “I value the opportunity to contribute to its continued growth as a model for STEM talent development.”
Dr. Olszewski-Kubilius earned a M.A. in Education and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology both from Northwestern University.
Ms. Mayer, appointed by the Governor to the Board of Trustees in 2013, is an associate with Dewberry Architects. She was named one of 40 Leaders Under 40 by InterBusiness Issues in 2010. She was the project architect on several award winning justice and corrections projects, including the Mule Creek Infill Complex for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Metropolitan Nashville/ Davidson County Courthouse renovation and historic restoration in Nashville, Tennessee. She has been a member of the design team for multiple projects published in the Academy of Architecture for Justice Facility Review "The Red Book" over the last 15 years.
"It is a privilege to serve on the IMSA Board and in this new role as second vice chair,” said Mayer. “My time as a student at IMSA was instrumental to my personal development. IMSA continues to be a leader in STEM education in Illinois and the world.”
Ms. Mayer is a graduate of the IMSA Class of 1990. She received a B.S. in Architectural Studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
As the institution’s governing body, the 17-member Board of Trustees focuses on strategic direction and policy.
###
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA)
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® (IMSA) develops creative, ethical leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As a teaching and learning laboratory created by the State of Illinois, IMSA enrolls academically talented Illinois students (grades 10-12) in its advanced residential college preparatory program. Additionally, IMSA serves thousands of educators and students in Illinois and beyond through innovative instructional programs that foster imagination and inquiry. IMSA advances education through research, groundbreaking ventures and strategic partnerships. To learn more about IMSA and its programs, visit www.imsa.edu.
