April 08--College of DuPage trustees are poised to interview three finalists to be the school's next president, a step toward moving forward after a tumultuous year.
The finalists, selected unanimously by a 14-member search committee, include two current community college presidents and a consultant with higher education experience.
"Each of the candidates is fully capable of leading the college to a new and exciting future," former state House Speaker Lee Daniels, who chaired the search committee, told the board of trustees at a meeting Thursday night. "Each will serve with pride and distinction."
The finalists are David Sam, president of Elgin Community College and a former administrator at the College of DuPage; Barbara Kavalier, president of Navarro College in Texas; and Ann Rondeau, a consultant with IBM Watson Group and past president of the National Defense University.
"We have faced some considerable institutional challenges this past year," board Chairwoman Deanne Mazzochi said. "But we now have some fine and incredibly talented candidates. ... I am thrilled we are in this position here in April."
The college received more than 380 applications for the position, and search firm William E. Hay Co. narrowed the candidates to 12. The search committee then decided on the three finalists.
The board plans to interview and hold public forums with the finalists during the week of April 18.
Sam has been president of Elgin Community College since 2007, and has more than two decades of experience in higher education administration at seven colleges. He was previously the coordinator of international studies at the College of DuPage.
"One of the things we enjoyed about his resume and background is the fact that he is a local individual who knows the area and knows it well," Daniels told the board.
Former President Robert Breuder was put on leave nearly a year ago amid an outcry over his controversial buyout deal, criticism of his lavish spending and state and federal investigations. Those investigations are ongoing.
Breuder was later fired by a newly elected board of trustees and is suing the board for wrongful termination.
Joseph Collins, the college's former executive vice president, has been serving as interim president.
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