Meet Jenna Goldsmith: candidate for Rock Valley College Board

Check out all our candidate profiles in our expanded 2025 Election Guide for Roscoe, Rockton, and South Beloit.

Why did you decide to run?

I'm a passionate alum of Rock Valley College. When I noticed last fall that three seats were opening up on the board, and there were no educators or higher education professionals running or currently on the board, I knew I could add a critical perspective to the board. 

Tell us about your background and accomplishments that you bring to the table.

I graduated from Belvidere High School in 2004 and Rock Valley College in 2006. After RVC, I earned degrees in English from Illinois State University and did my doctoral work at the University of Kentucky. After teaching in the state of Oregon for five years, I returned to the area to give back to my home region, where I have deep roots. I have a passion for serving my community, which I did as City Poet Laureate of Rockford from 2023-2025. I bring 18 years of teaching and administration in higher ed to the table, a perspective not currently represented on the RVC Board of Trustees.

What do you hope to accomplish in this office in the future? 

I will work to ensure RVC stays accessible and affordable. As a Belvidere High School graduate, I am particularly passionate about RVC's special relationship to Boone County, and the significant number of community members the college impacts there. I want to grow that impact so that more Boone County residents have access to quality, affordable education right in their backyard.

Why should people vote for you? 

As I've said, the RVC Board of Trustees– a board of higher learning– does not currently have any higher education professional representing that knowledge and experience. I would join other trustees from the areas of small business ownership, IT, law, public safety, and manufacturing, to round out a board of experts and service-minded individuals.