Gov. Bruce Rauner appointed some new members to his office Friday.
The governor filled the position of secretary of education, choosing Beth Purvis, who was the CEO for the Chicago International Charter School for 12 years. Prior to that, Purvis was an assistant professor of special education and associate director of the Child and Family Development Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Purvis received a doctorate degree in education from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. She earned a bachelor's degree in educational research and elementary education at Bucknell University and a master's degree from Teachers College at Columbia University.
Rauner also announced the appointment of Matthew Perez as the Illinois fire marshal. Perez is currently the fire marshal of Aurora and has been with the department for 27 years. Before he became a firefighter, Perez served as a Kane County sheriff's deputy for two years.
Perez graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in fire service management.
The governor announced several other appointments as well, including Hector Alejandre as a member of the Illinois Gaming Board, David Kahnweiler as a member of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Board and James Schink and Stephen Schnorf as members of the Executive Ethics Commission.
