Where to hear more from College of DuPage presidential finalists

The three finalists for College of DuPage president will answer questions from the public early next week and have closed-door interviews with the school's board of trustees.

The finalists recommended by a search committee as possible replacements for the fired Robert Breuder are Barbara Kavalier, district president of Navarro College in Texas; Ann Rondeau, a past president of the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.; and David Sam, president of Elgin Community College.

The public forums are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, April 18 through 20, on the college's Glen Ellyn campus.

Kavalier will appear April 18, Rondeau on April 19 and Sam on April 20.

All three sessions will be in the Student Services Center, Room SSC-2206, 425 Fawell Blvd.,

Each will be moderated by Deanne Mazzochi, the COD board's acting chairwoman, and Glenn Hansen, president of the Faculty Senate.

"We are excited to present these candidates to the community," Mazzochi said in a statement. "The board eagerly anticipates feedback before we begin the final selection process to choose our next president, a decision that will have a significant impact on the future of this great institution."

Joseph Collins, COD's acting interim president, has been overseeing daily operations at the college since April, when Breuder was put on paid administrative leave amid state and federal investigations into the school's spending and administrative practices. Breuder was fired in October.

More than 380 people applied for the president's job. After a process that took months, a 14-member search committee unanimously recommended Rondeau, Sam and Kavalier.

It's now up to the elected board of trustees to decide who will become the next president.

According to the agenda for the three forums, each finalist will be given up to 90 minutes to respond to questions from the public before going behind closed doors with trustees.

Questions can be sent ahead of time by emailing pres-questions@cod.edu or using Twitter (@pres_cod).

The forums will be streamed live on COD's's website at cod.edu/multimedia_services/botmedia.aspx.