GovState degree propels distinguished alum into public service
2024 Distinguished Alumni Reception set for November 2
By Laura Pohl, Contributing Writer
Janet Muchnik, Class of 1981, is among a small group of women considered to be trailblazers as city managers in local government. Her Master of Arts in Public Administration from Governors State University (GovState) prepared her for positions as city manager for the City of Country Club Hills, 1987 to 1994, and as village manager for the Village of Park Forest from 1994 to 2004.
Her career in public service was honored with a 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award, representing the College of Arts of Sciences.
“There were many satisfying aspects of my city management career,” she said. “First of all, it was the opportunity to work toward improving something.”
Among the examples she notes was the improvement of budgeting and audits. “In both Country Club Hills and Park Forest, the finance director and I introduced the idea of developing budgets and audits that would be recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association for qualities such as clarity and ability to communicate goals.”
Muchnik’s career began with an internship while completing her GovState graduate degree.
“In the last months of the program, the participants were placed in internships,” Muchnik explained. “I was an assistant to the city planner in Blue Island. When she left, I became the city planner.”
Her next position involved economic development work for the Community and Educational Development Association (CEDA). Two years later, the newly elected mayor of Country Club Hills was looking for an economic developer and community relations director. Beth Ruyle, then executive director of South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, recommended her. The mayor later asked her to become city manager when the position became available.
One of the most memorable projects for Muchnik involved managing the redevelopment of one of the oldest regional malls in America into a downtown for the Village of Park Forest. “It was both gratifying and challenging,” she said. “It was a huge community planning process—I love building something new."
“And I loved when classes of school children would visit Village Hall and I could explain the role of local government in their lives.”
Today, she and husband Melvin, a retired GovState faculty member, are very active in arts organizations and enjoy events at GovState. Janet Muchnik served for many years as president of the Tall Grass Arts Association—and continues to serve on the board. The couple is active in fine arts organizations and attend fine arts performances across the Chicago area.
Muchnik was inspired in her career by the late Paul Green, a nationally recognized professor of political science and founder of the Institute for Public Policy. “Governors State gave me the tools I needed to be successful in my job,” Muchnik said. “I loved the classes on history, especially labor history, politics and planning but the classes on Constitutional Law and Ethics of Administrators lasted with me all the years I was working.”
Green felt that civic leadership was a good opportunity for his students, including women. “By the time I became a city manager, I was just the seventh one in Illinois,” she said. “It was really rare. (Paul Green) thought it was a great career path for women.”
More alumni like Muchnik will be recognized at this year's reception. The 2024 Distinguished Alumni Reception will be held on Saturday, November 2 at 5 p.m. in the Hall of Governors at GovState. Click here for more information and to purchase seats to the reception.