Lazaro Lopez, chairman of the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), announced on Feb. 13 that 27-year-old David S. Olsen will fill the seventh seat vacancy in the College of DuPage Board of Trustees.

The young Republican graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s (UIC) College of Business in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance-Management and International Business. He was also the student body president of UIC from 2010-2011. He was elected to the Downers Grove Village Council in 2013, then appointed as mayor pro tem in 2015.

“I am deeply humbled and honored by my appointment today to the College of DuPage Board of Trustees,” said Olsen on Facebook after the announcement. “I look forward to collaborating with each of my new colleagues on the Board of Trustees and all college stakeholders to guide this important Illinois institution as it moves beyond recent issues and refocuses on its core mission – to be a center for excellence in teaching, learning, and cultural experiences by providing accessible, affordable, and comprehensive education.”

The decision fell into the hands of the ICCB after Dianne McGuire, Joseph Wozniak and Erin Bert went on a boycott from Dec. 17 until Feb. 4 following former Chairwoman Kathy Hamilton’s resignation for special meetings called by the Clean Slate. On the other side, the Clean Slate, Deanne Mazzochi, Frank Napolitano and Charles Bernstein, would cancel meetings called by the other three and push the meeting time a little further latter the same day. This back and forth lead to a lack of quorum.

With this addition to the board, there are now enough members, even with the three boycotting members not present at the meetings, to pass motions. Interim Chairwoman Dianne Mazzochi appreciated the swiftness and diligence of the ICCB and Lopez making the choice only two days after the responsibility was handed over.

“I welcome David Olsen to the Board, and know he will be a great addition,” said Mazzochi. “He has a proven commitment to public service across diverse forums.  His professional career’s focus on ethics and compliance issues will serve us well as we can finally begin to move forward to address the issues raised by the Higher Learning Commission.”

The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be on Thursday, Feb. 18, where Olsen will be sworn in and have his term effective immediately.