'Nontraditional' College of DuPage president finalist talks about leadership

As a retired Navy vice admiral, Ann Rondeau acknowledges that she's a "nontraditional" candidate for the College of DuPage president job.

But she said she applied for the top administrative post at the Glen Ellyn-based school because education is her calling.

"My body of work is this kind of work," said Rondeau, a past president of the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. "I've spent my adult career training and teaching people how to get to the next level. This is a good fit."

During a Tuesday night public forum, Rondeau talked about the experience and leadership that she would bring to the post last held by Robert Breuder, who was fired in October amid state and federal investigations into the school's spending and administrative practices.

"Fundamentally, I'm a leader," Rondeau said to the more than 70 residents, students and COD employees who attended the forum. "I know how to lead. And I've had the privilege of leading teams toward all kinds of ways of doing things ... and of helping teams come together."

Rondeau, 64, of Vienna, Virginia, is one of three finalists being considered by COD's board of trustees. The other candidates are David Sam, president of Elgin Community College, and Barbara Kavalier, district president of Navarro College in Texas.

All three finalists are meeting with the public and COD trustees this week during the series of forums. A forum featuring Kavalier happened on Monday. Sam will appear at the college on Wednesday.

On Tuesday night, Rondeau responded to a variety of questions, including one about the roles of the college administration and faculty.

"We're all in the learning experience," she said. "If administrators are not helping the learning experience in some way, then we're not doing our job. If the faculty is not appreciating what the administrators can do and helping the administrators to be more effective, then we're not doing our job."

Rondeau said administrators and faculty members must work together to help students succeed. She said she also believes in shared governance and transparency.

While responding to another question, Rondeau said the college shouldn't fear increased accountability.

"Accountability is a great thing," Rondeau said. "It's liberating. ... It's an opportunity."

Despite what happened previously at COD, Rondeau said the school should be confident "because we have great things to show."

Rondeau has 26 years of experience in military and educational roles, including deputy commander of the U.S. Transportation Command in Illinois and commander of the Naval Personnel Development Command in Virginia.

Several times during her military career, Rondeau was tasked with turning around an organization. She also has experience dealing with the Higher Learning Commission, which has placed COD on two years' probation because of questions about its administrative practices and dysfunction on the board.

Rondeau said it's going to take "hard work" to get COD off probation, but it's work that can be accomplished.

"It would be a marvelous example to our students that we can pass the exam," she said.

The final public forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Student Services Center, Room SSC-2206, 425 Fawell Blvd.

Daily operations at COD have been overseen by Joseph Collins, the acting interim president, since last April, when Breuder was put on paid administrative leave.

<b>Ann Rondeau</b>Current position: Retired Navy vice admiral

Professional background: President, National Defense University in Washington, D.C.; deputy commander, U.S. Transportation Command in Illinois; Pentagon director/chief of staff, Navy Staff; commander, Naval Personnel Development Command in Virginia; commander, Naval Service Training Command at Great Lakes; commanding officer, Naval Support Activity in Tennessee.

Education: Bachelor's from Eisenhower College in New York; master's from Georgetown University; doctorate in education from Northern Illinois University