Trustee Election 2024 Candidates
Randall Miller
Active-Member Trustee Candidate – six-year term
My name is Randall (Randy) Miller, and I am running for a six-year term on the SURS Board of Trustees.
SURS pensions are a promise made to state higher education employees. I want to serve on the Board to ensure that promises will be kept to our most vulnerable members, including the adjunct professors who make up a growing share of university faculty. As an adjunct professor myself, I will be a voice for that population, and an advocate for fair fiscal policies that recognize the changing reality of higher education for all workers.
I have taught at City Colleges of Chicago since 2012, and for the past five years, I have served as president of City Colleges Contingent Labor Organizing Committee. As a member of the Board, I will continue to stand up for the dignity of higher ed workers so that all employees can retire with fair and secure benefits.
Antonio Vasquez
Active-Member Trustee Candidate – six-year term
Antonio Vasquez is a professor of economics at Wilbur Wright College and served as chair of the Business Department. He previously served as a lecturer at Harold Washington College, the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) and Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU).
Vasquez previously served as an appointed and elected Trustee from June 2008 through June 2021 and rejoined the Board in December 2022 after the unfortunate death of Trustee Weisbenner.
Vasquez is a member of Wright’s Accessibility Planning team following up work he began years ago with El Valor, a non-profit organization in the Hispanic community of Chicago serving adults and children with disabilities, as well as with the Center for Capacity Building on Minorities with Disabilities Research at UIC.
Vasquez received his B.A. from DePaul University and his M.A. from UIC. He serves on the executive committee of Local 1600 Cook County College Teachers Union, and the academic affairs curriculum committee at Wright College.
Collin Van Meter
Active-Member Trustee Candidate – six-year term
Collin A. Van Meter has been a member of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Information Technology Services Unit since 2011 and just recently transitioned into a new position with Technology Services at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
During his time at SIUE, he has worked closely with faculty, staff, and students assisting with the implementation and utilization of educational technology across the University. Collin has worked in the Information Technology field for the last 19 years and has earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Illinois College and a Master of Science in Computer Management and Information Systems from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Collin remained involved at SIUE by serving on the University Staff Senate as a Senator representing Civil Service Open Range employees and believes strongly in shared governance and representation.
As a trustee on the SURS board since 2018, Collin has worked to secure the pension benefits for active state employees and current annuitants. He has advocated for new technologies and additional staffing at SURS that will make certain the organization is well placed to more efficiently serve its members. As an elected trustee and Vice Chair to the board, he has been an active and engaged representative for SURS members, working closely with fellow trustees and SURS staff to assure member interests are translated to effectual policy decisions.
Collin is committed to ensuring proper state funding and suitable investments that will safeguard the system now and into the future.
Kristi Barnwell
Active-Member Trustee Candidate – three-year term
Kristi Barnwell is a long-time member of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100. Kristi is an associate professor of history at the University of Illinois Springfield.
She received her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in History. As a faculty member, Kristi has served two terms as president of her faculty union and is active and engaged in several faculty governance roles. She is also a board member of the Springfield & Central Illinois Trades and Labor Council and is a member of its audit committee.
Kristi’s leadership roles at the University of Illinois Springfield have made her acutely aware of how the SURS benefits have impacted the ability of universities to recruit and retain high-quality professionals. She is running for election to the SURS Board of Trustees to ensure that the benefits offered by the system will address the abysmal Tier II system.
Greg Dobbins
Annuitant Trustee Candidate
EXPERIENCE
CDL DRIVER, AQUAGON/SRS
SCHOOL BUS DRIVER, FOUR LOCAL DISTRICTS
Transport students safely, promotion to trainer.
CONSULTANT/OWNER, 2DSBC
Comprehensive small business advice/analysis.
BUSINESS ANALYST, JOLIET JR COLLEGE
Small Business Consulting and Training Seminars.
ACCOUNT MANAGER, AMOCO
Manage trucking accounts in a one state area.
SALES MANAGER, UNOCAL76
Manage trucking accounts in a three-state area.
DISTRICT MANAGER, UNOCAL 76
Total management of, 16 retail outlets, 80+ employees, in a 3- county area.
EDUCATION
MBA – Lewis University
BS, Business – University of Illinois
Steven Rock
Annuitant Trustee Candidate
It has been an honor to represent active and retired members on the SURS Board for the past eight years. Board members are fiduciaries, providing insight, making final decisions, and always acting in the best interests of our members. There have been some challenges in recent years, but I have always looked out for your interests as I share them too.
I have attended all Board and committee meetings including searches for Executive Directors and Chief Investment Officers. I chair the Legal and Legislative Committee and have a good relationship with SURS’ staff. It has been a priority to participate in educational sessions and conferences to become more knowledgeable and effective in my role, especially in the area of investments.
I retired in 2018 as an Economics professor at Western Illinois University. Other teaching appointments include: Northern Illinois University and the University of Illinois Chicago. My Ph.D. is from Northwestern University.
I have been a proud member of the University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 for the past 33 years, served as chapter treasurer, and on a negotiating team. Currently I am on the Executive Board of the Retirees Chapter. I am a director for the WIU SUAA chapter. Other service includes Local Coordinator of the AARP volunteer tax preparation program in Macomb. I served for 13 years as WIU’s representative to the Faculty Advisory Council of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
I would be grateful for your support for the elected annuitant position.