Georgia C. Costello was picked this week as the new president of Southwestern Illinois College. Ms. Costello, who is 58, is the wife of U.S. Rep. Jerry F. Costello, an 11-term Democrat whose district includes the community college’s three campuses.

With no formal experience in higher-education administration, Ms. Costello is a former junior-high-school principal who recently served as an assistant superintendent of education in a regional office of education. The college’s governing board unanimously chose Ms. Costello as president because of her experience with education systems and her knowledge of the local area and its needs, according to the Belleville News-Democrat.

When asked about the perception that her husband’s political stature helped her get the job, Ms. Costello told the newspaper that she considered her personal life and her career to be separate.

“I think Jerry has his career, and I’m very proud of him,” she said. “I also have my career, and I think he’s extremely proud of me.” —Paul Fain