COD board welcomes new trustee

Roselle resident Sahin “Sonny” Jutla is the College of DuPage’s newest board member.

Jutla replaces Heidi Holan, who resigned from the board in July after moving out of the district. Jutla will fill Holan’s seat until the April 2025 election.

Jutla, who was appointed at a special meeting on Thursday, has served on the COD audit committee.

“Sonny’s prior knowledge of COD and its fiscal structure will help him quickly get up to speed on the business ahead of us,” COD board chair Christine Fenne said.

Jutla is a graduate of the John Marshall Law School and is an assistant state’s attorney for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office in Chicago. He is also a trial team coach at the University of Illinois-Chicago Law School.

COD trustees unanimously backed his appointment following in-person interviews with more than 25 candidates. One of the main tasks before the board is selecting a new college president. Brian Caputo, who served as the college’s president for five years, retired earlier this year.

“His professional and community experience, as well as his familiarity with the college, will be an asset to the board as it moves further into our search for a permanent College of DuPage president,’ said Interim President Christine Hammond.