Knox is proud to introduce the newest member of its Board of Trustees, Alumni Trustee Daniel Bien ’22, who was nominated and voted upon by the Knox alumni community this spring. In his role as an alumni trustee, Bien will work closely with the Board of Trustees to contribute to the strategic direction of Knox College, keeping us at the forefront of higher education and driving us to maintain our status as a global institution.
Bien graduated from Knox in 2022 with a double major in political science and environmental studies, earning Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha honors. From 2020 to 2022, he served as a student member of the Board of Trustees, sitting on the Finance and Facilities & Infrastructure Committees. He also served as treasurer of the Student Senate and Phi Gamma Delta, president of the Pre-Law Club, and conducted Richter-funded research on microplastics in Knox County waterways. Since graduating, Bien has served as an aide to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin in the Springfield office and, since August 2024, in Chicago.
“I’m grateful to everyone who works to make Knox a better place, and I’m especially excited to help connect the perspectives of recent graduates with the long-term direction of the College,” said Bien.
At the end of June, two trustees ended their terms of service on the Board: Janice Vyn Sharry ’73 and Alumni Trustee Vela Lu ’18. Sharry joined the Board in 2013 and has held multiple leadership roles during her tenure as General Trustee, including serving as a member of the Steering Committee and chair of Facilities and Infrastructure, Governance, and Mission of the College Committees. She was also a member of the Academic Affairs, Advancement, Finance Committees and Honorary Degree Subcommittee. Sharry was named trustee emeritus in recognition of her service.
Outgoing Alumni Trustee Vela Lu ’18 joined the Board in 2022 and completed the fourth year of her term on June 30. Lu, who is a psychotherapist based in New York City, served as a member of Committees on Admission & Advancement and Audit & Risk, as well as on the Honorary Degree Subcommittee.