SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner has named the program director at the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice as its director.
Heidi Mueller has been with the agency since 2012. The Republican governor tabbed her Friday to lead an agency in transition.
The 42-year-old Mueller takes over the $120,000 position from Candice Jones. Jones resigned after two years in May. She was in charge when Rauner closed the Kewanee youth center last spring because of a dwindling incarcerated population and new approaches to juvenile discipline.
Mueller currently makes $95,000 a year managing department programs including health care, behavioral health services, vocational and recreational programming.
Mueller has a law degree from the University of Chicago. She has a psychology and history degree from Macalester College.