New Harper president installed amid fanfare, family

Harper College President Kenneth Ender described his new professional home as a grand institution with resources unmatched by most other community colleges.

But with resources, comes great responsibility, he added.

Ender spoke of that responsibility to more than 500 people gathered Thursday on the Palatine campus to witness his installation as the fifth president in Harper's 44-year history.

"For our country to enjoy widely shared prosperity, we must change the educational enterprise as we currently know it," Ender said. "Leading this change is the work of the 21st century community college."

Ender's two-hour installation ceremony featured delegates from nearly 25 Illinois colleges, as well as remarks by Harper representatives, state Sen. Dan Kotowski and Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder.

During Ender's speech, he discussed themes that emerged from the numerous symposiums, workshops and discussions held during a Week of Engagement aimed at transforming Harper to meet future educational, economic and work force needs.

Among the themes, Ender said, were Harper having to partner extensively with local high schools and universities, as well as identifying student success rates and raise the bar to assure all of them succeed.

The ceremony's most heartwarming moment came when Ender's identical twin brother and fellow community college president, Steven, took the podium.

He spoke of the family's humble beginnings, including having immigrant grandfathers and becoming the first generation to go to college. Steven Ender also spoke on behalf of their late father and their mother, whose illness prevented her from attending.

"You have overcome every life obstacle with respect and dignity, and we are proud of you," said a choked up Steven Ender, who is president of Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan. "You are a leader of distinction ... Ken, you are the man we knew you would become and we love you very much."