Meet trustee members and ECC alumni James G. Allen and Melissa Barbosa-Guzman as they reflect on their experience and look towards the future after six months in office.

The Board of Trustees is a group of elected officials who legislate by majority rule through the formal passage of ECC policies, resolutions, and motions according to ECC’s website. The ECC Trustees serve a six year term upon election. It includes a student trustee who serves a one year term.

Barbosa-Guzman and Allen were elected in April, 2025 in a closely contested election. According to the Board of Trustee meeting minutes, Allen beat former board member Shane Nowak by less than 200 votes.

Allen is trained as a flight attendant and paralegal. He got his start in politics as a student here at ECC when he was elected for the student trustee position. He credits this time as giving him a deeper look into the governmental aspects of the college. 

“It made me realize how important ECC is in the community, and how much they actually do, not only for the students, but also for the community as a whole,” Allen said.

Barbosa-Guzman is a lifelong Elgin resident and an attorney who has been practicing law for over 20 years. Her practice focuses on immigration and real estate law.

“I think I bring that perspective of having been a student on campus years ago, and being an involved student,” Barbosa-Guzman said.

After he graduated, Allen joined the paralegal advisory committee and the Bright Futures campaign, which has a goal to raise $3 million for student scholarships and student funding.

 Laura Haske, paralegal studies professor, believes being involved in law is a good foundation for a board trustee because of the common focus in public service. 

“I think it’s a good background in the sense that they have a more nuanced view of how everything’s connected in the different roles that different groups play,” she said. 

Allen feels that advocacy for the college in the wider community and continuing to grow the college’s profile is an area, which the board should continue to focus on. 

Both trustees cite new immigration policies as being a main challenge for the board so far.

“I don’t believe that the board was completely aware of how deep it would go, how close it would come to home. I think that’s just human nature. Unfortunately, we tend to think it’s not going to affect us right here at home.” Allen said

On the other hand, Barbosa-Guzman said that she was not shocked by the immigration issues that the board has faced.

“I think that was something that I was aware of that would certainly be an issue, certainly during the presidential campaign” she said, “After the elections I knew it was going to be a challenge I faced as an immigration attorney. I think that’s going to be something that we are going to be challenged with and making sure that our students still have the necessary resources, but also an environment where they will feel safe, welcomed, heard.”

Allen hopes to reduce the cost of books, computer programs, and other educational materials bought through ECC.

Barbosa-Guzman hopes to be remembered for bringing together her professional, academic, and personal experiences as an “Elginite” to make a positive impact on the campus community. She hopes to come out of her time on the board with new insight into what students are experiencing right now.

“I think that hopefully I will have seen ECC in a new light as a trustee as opposed to my time here as a student,” she said.  “I worked here briefly many years ago as an Elgin resident; people get new perspectives as a trustee.”

When looking to the future, Allen currently has no political aspirations beyond trusteeship.

 “I want to stay local,” he said. “I love community. I love this community.”

The new trustees are ready for six years of hard work and service to this college.

“I think all of politics is public service as well, you know, trying to think about the common good, think about serving the community as a whole,” said Haske.