ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH was born on the northwest side of Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1979 and earned a law degree from Pepperdine University in 1983. After holding political offices in the Illinois General Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives, Blagojevich was elected Governor of Illinois in November 2002 and reelected in November 2006. During his term as Governor, Blagojevich enacted important changes that expanded access to healthcare, improved education, bolstered public safety and spurred growth in Illinois’ economy. Blagojevich was impeached and removed from the office of Governor on January 29, 2009.