Billman appointed interim director of the master's in medical biotechnology program
The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford is pleased to announce that Penny Billman, PhD, will be the interim director of the masters in medical biotechnology effective January 16, 2012. Dr. Billman has over 20 years of experience in research, strategic planning, and grants involving public and private organizations. She also worked for ten years as college administrator.
Since 2009, she has served as a research assistant professor with the health policy and social sciences research division of the family and community medicine department and as an adjunct graduate faculty member in the department of biomedical science. Prior to joining us, Dr. Billman was a senior research associate at Northern Illinois University’s Regional Development Institute. She was also the associate vice president and executive assistant to the president at Rock Valley College and dean of academic development and research at Elgin Community College.
Dr. Billman holds a PhD from Purdue University and currently teaches biostatistics and clinical trial courses for the Medical Biotechnology program and epidemiology for the second year medical students at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford. Dr. Billman has taught statistics and research courses for Northern Illinois University and computer information and programming courses for Purdue University and Ancilla College in Indiana.
Her expertise is in the design and statistical analysis of multivariate, multilevel complex data using parametric and non-parametric methodologies. For the past ten years, Dr. Billman has been the lead external evaluator on numerous local, state and federal grants on substance abuse, healthier community initiatives, alternative to incarceration programs, emergency management systems, economic development projects, immigrant integration, STEM undergraduate education, student school assignment, and strategic planning for public agencies. She has also been the lead evaluator for multiple National Science Foundation and Department of Education grants and has served on advisory panels for both federal agencies. For the past five years, she has been lead evaluator for the statewide evaluation of 21st Century Community Learning Centers in Illinois, and prior to that, the Comprehensive School Reform grant.