Vickie Gillio, Northern Illinois University

As the second largest public university in Illinois, NIU currently has over 25,000 students. The school was established in 1895 by Governor John P. Altgeld as a satellite campus for Illinois State University, but runs as an independent school today as it is even larger than its parent school. The school has many programs rated among some of the best in the country, especially its College of Business and Accountancy program.

Gillio is replacing Ken Davidson as general counsel, but only temporarily. The university is still searching for a permanent replacement, but has not found the right replacement in time for Davidson's retirement. Gillio's service as general counsel will last until a permanent candidate is named in the early spring.

Ken Davidson has been practicing law for forty years and is now headed for retirement. He began exclusively working for NIU in 1995 and became the general counsel in 2002. He says that now he is ''looking forward to spending [his] time and energies with close family, grandchildren and exercising the inherent freedoms that come with independence and retirement.''