Trustee Q&A: Secretary Tim Black

This Trustee Q&A features Tim Black, secretary of the Black Hawk College Board of Trustees. He was previously an adjunct faculty member at Black Hawk College East Campus and his wife is a graduate. He ran for the board because he believes Black Hawk College is a great place and wanted to help make it better. Please take a few minutes to get to know Tim Black!

What do you enjoy about being on the board?

The camaraderie. We have some great people on the board and I look forward to being with them.

When you are not serving on the board, what are you up to?

I watch movies, tailgate at football games and cheer for the Cubs, but mostly spend time with my wife and cats.

What is your favorite thing about Black Hawk College?

Getting the chance to work with all the wonderful people at Black Hawk College – from the staff to the administration to the faculty to the students. It is a great place to represent.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up all over. My father was a United Methodist minister, so we moved a lot. I spent my school years in Pawnee, Forsyth and Kankakee.

When you were a kid, what career did you envision for yourself?

I always wanted to be in politics and to be a teacher. I guess I ended up doing both.

If you could go anywhere on vacation for free, where would you want to go and why?

New Orleans. It is so much fun and the food is incredible.

What is something most people do not know about you?

I was once stuck in an elevator in downtown San Antonio for over an hour and had to crawl out through a small opening to escape.

If you could change something about the world, what would you change?

That’s a tough one. I guess my one wish is that the economy would be permanently strong and we would have all the money we would need for our educational system.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

My uncle once told me to never buy anything over $35,000 that didn’t come with a toilet. So far, I have stuck to that.

Aside from the necessities, what is one thing you can’t go a day without?

My wife, Linda.

What is your favorite time of the year, and why?

The fall. I enjoy the weather, the beautiful leaves and going to football games.

How has education impacted your life?

Education has always been there to improve my life. Whenever I was in a tough spot, I went back to school to improve my situation.

Did you have a favorite subject when you were a student?

Social studies, of course!

What do you want prospective students to know about Black Hawk College?

Both of our campuses are great places to go to college. You will receive a great education, make good friends and have instructors who really care about you.