TRS Trustee Devon Bruce of Lake Forest was appointed president of the Board of Trustees on Jan. 24 by Gov. JB Pritzker. He replaces State School Superintendent Dr. Carmen Ayala, who had served as TRS Board president since February 2019.

A new state law effective in January gives the governor the power to appoint the president of the TRS Board from among its members. Previously – since the creation of TRS in 1939 – the Board president by law had been the state school superintendent.

President Bruce was appointed to the TRS Board by Gov. Pritzker in April of 2019. He is an attorney with Power, Rogers and Smith in Chicago. He also is a veteran of several government boards, including the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and the Illinois State Board of Investment.

Trustee Ayala remains on the Board as a member ex officio.

The law giving the governor appointment power over the Board presidency also contains a provision that increases the size of the TRS Board from 13 members to 15 members. One new trustee will be elected on May 1 from among active members and the governor will appoint one new member.