Former state Treasurer and failed U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias (jeh-NOO'-lee-ehs) has a new post.

Gov. Pat Quinn has picked the 35-year-old Democrat to serve as chairman of the Illinois Community College Board. The part-time position is unpaid.

Giannoulias tells the Chicago Sun-Times (http://bit.ly/qlH2cC ) that he's "incredibly excited" to help reform Illinois' community colleges. He says a well-educated work force is crucial to putting Americans back to work.

Giannoulias lost the U.S. Senate race to Republican Mark Kirk last year.

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Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://www.suntimes.com/index