Illinois’ former treasurer has a new post. Alexi Giannoulias has been appointed by Governor Pat Quinn to chair the Illinois Community College Board.

The panel is a non-paid, voluntary 11-member board that oversees the state’s 48 community colleges.

Giannoulias will focus on increasing the state’s college graduation rates. About 40 percent of the state’s adult population holds a college degree or career certificate. The state wants to increase that to 60 percent by 2025.

Giannoulias previously served as the Illinois treasurer from 2007 to 2011. The Democrat lost the race for the U.S. Senate in 2010 to Republican Mark Kirk.

In addition to leading the community college board, this fall, Giannoulias will teach a political science course at Northwestern University as an adjunct professor.