Gov. George Ryan appointed Julie Sullivan Ward to serve on Eastern’s Board of Trustees Wednesday.

Ward, 43, of Springfield, is an Eastern alumna and the assistant director of governmental affairs for the Illinois Association of Realtors in Springfield.

She fills the spot left vacant by the late Mack Hollowell, who resigned from the BOT last August.

The university is eager to have Ward as a member of the BOT because of her experience and expertise.

“We are pleased to have Julie on our Board of Trustees,” said Jill Nilsen, interim director of external relations. “She has close ties to Eastern, having earned two degrees from the university and having served on the EIU Alumni Association Board.

“She also is familiar with the workings of a governing board, having been a state representative on the former Board of Governors. Her experience working with the state legislature will also bring a valuable asset to the board.”

Ward graduated from Eastern with honors in 1978 with a bachelor of arts degree in history and political science. She was a member of the Student Senate and was named “Senator of the Year” in 1977.

Ward said she is looking forward to working with the university and the BOT because Eastern is a special place to her and her family.

“As a student in 1979, I was honored to serve as a student representative on Eastern’s former governing board, and I look forward to serving as a member of the Board of Trustees,” Ward said in a press release.

“Four of my brothers and I attended Eastern, so it is indeed an honor to become a trustee and carry on the good work of the board.”

Gov. Ryan also reappointed BOT member Betsy Mitchell, 47, of Champaign, according to the press release.

Mitchell, board secretary, has served as a trustee since 1996.

She is a longtime lobbyist and director of public affairs for Coldwell Banker Devonshire Realty in Champaign. Mitchell also is an Eastern alumna, having earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1975 and 1980.

Gov. Ryan hasn’t announced replacements for former BOT Chair Carl Koerner, who recently died, and trustee Keith Branson, who continues to serve although his term expired in January.