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You are here: Home / Blog / Chambana Dad to Know: James Quisenberry

Chambana Dad to Know: James Quisenberry

April 1, 2015 By From The Editors

JamesQuisenberryFB
James, his wife, Jill, who has been a 1st grade teacher at Wiley school since 1991, and Will, a 12 year-old in 6 grade at Urbana Middle School. Photo provided.

Thank you to Brendan McGinty for Parkland College Board of Trustees for sponsoring our Chambana Dad to Know. If you are a  voter who lives in the Parkland Community College District and want to learn more about Brendan McGinty’s platform, please visit his website.

Champaign County Board Member James Quisenberry was born in Indianapolis but grew up in Carbondale, where his parents joined the faculty of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1971. James lived in Carbondale until 1989 after earning a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from SIU in Computer Science.  In 1988 James married his wife Jill, and a year later they moved to Champaign-Urbana, where James worked in computer education and the PLATO system at the University of Illinois. James then moved on to work in the private sector for 14 years, and after the birth of his son, Will, he left the coorporate world and returned to the University to manage technology for University Housing where he’s now an Associate Director of Housing for Technology Services. James and his family enjoy traveling together and are avid geocachers.  He has hard time getting people to call him James, rather than Jim, and so he encourage folks who like nicknames to call him Quiz.

See why we think James Quisenberry is a Chambana Dad to Know.

Q: You have been civicly active for many years. What drives you? 
My parents were both hard workers and active in our community and committed Rotarians.  I learned from their example and after spending about ten years really focused on my career, I started looking for ways to make a difference in the community.  This town has many great organizations to get involved with and so it was easy to get busy.
Q: What has been your favorite post – elected or volunteer – in that time? 
They have all been great experiences and I’ve made so many connections with good friends through each of them so it is hard to choose a favorite. The impact of the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum on science literacy is important to me and the Urbana Free Library is a tremendous asset for our community, particularly our kids.  Right now I’m really enjoying my involvement with Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on their Advancement Council.
Q: What do you wish people knew about the Champaign County board?
I wish more people understood how much the urban and rural parts of the county are connected and dependent on each other.  This community couldn’t be what is without both parts but it can be hard to see when you are immersed in one or the other.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a father? 
Becoming a father was the most comfortable and natural transition I’ve experienced in my life.  I had no idea until it happened.  I would almost say it was instinctive but I know it has a lot to do with the experience my parents gave me as a child.
Q: You’re at Karaoke. What song do you pick to sing, and why?
It could be a lot of things, depending on my mood and who is with me.  Most likely it would be from the early 80s, on the new wave or edge of punk spectrum.  Joe Jackson’s Got the Time from Look Sharp is ticking in my head now. 
Q: What does your idea weekend look like?
Usually it involves a Krannert event on Friday evening with some browsing at the Promenade.  Saturday usually includes a stop at the Urbana Starbucks and then a stroll through the Market at the Square from booth to booth and conversation to conversation.  An afternoon trip to the library and some time at home and then maybe watching some Dr. Who.  Sunday always starts with listening to Pastor Bob’s sermon at St. Matthew Lutheran Church and if it’s nice out, maybe some geocaching around town or out in the country.
Q: What is your favorite place to eat in C-U? 
There are so many places we enjoy both new and old, but for longevity and consistency, I’ll say the Courier Café.
Q: Tell us something most people don’t know about you. 
My wife Jill and I are high school sweethearts who met for the first time in December 1982 at a high school holiday tournament basketball game when I was a senior and she was a sophomore.  It was surprising that we hadn’t met previously because we both grew up in Carbondale and our parents knew each other well.  It was also an unlikely event that we ended up sitting together, since Jill had to be persuaded to go by a friend, and I decided to attend at the last minute.  Within two weeks we started dating and we’ve never stopped since. 
Know an interesting mom or dad from the Champaign-Urbana metro area we should feature? Nominate him or her today!

 

Filed Under: Blog, Chambana Dads to Know Tagged With: chambana dad to know, chambana dads, champaign, Champaign Coutny Board, Krannert, Orpheum Children's Museum, Paul Quisenberry, St. Matthew Luthern Church, urbana

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