Donna Stewart New Dean of Business and Technology

With a background in both business and education, Donna Stewart is uniquely qualified to serve as the new dean of Business and Technology at College of DuPage.

Stewart will oversee more than 25 programs, including Accounting, Business, Culinary and Hospitality Management, Paralegal, Electronics, Computer Information Systems, Horticulture, and Manufacturing. Her new role perfectly complements what she accomplished in the Wisconsin higher education system.

“The focus of a community college is to meet the needs of local stakeholders and students,” said the Lisle resident. “As a natural progression, these are goals I plan to aggressively pursue.”

Stewart earned her bachelor's degree in Business Finance and an MBA in Operations Management from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. After a stint with Johnson Controls in Milwaukee, she and her husband became small-business owners in the Northwoods of Wisconsin where they also taught business courses at the University of Wisconsin-Extension in Rhinelander.

Stewart then accepted a full-time position teaching operations management at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She also earned her doctorate in vocational education from the University of Minnesota. While at UW-Stout, Stewart also held positions as the director of graduate and undergraduate studies, department chair, associate dean for the College of Management and was interim dean when she left for College of DuPage.

“The disciplines at University of Wisconsin-Stout and College of DuPage are closely aligned,” she said. “When I came for the interview, I knew I wanted to be a part of the genuine energy and vibrancy I felt here on campus.”

Stewart currently is meeting with the division's faculty and becoming more familiar with the nuances of each program. Her long-term goals include assessing program and student needs, identifying emerging delivery methods, and outlining future curricular possibilities.

“We should initiate new kinds of partnerships, such as pursuing additional 3+1 agreements and other opportunities that encourage completion of higher education degrees,” she said. “We also need to reach beyond our campus. I look forward to becoming more familiar with our advisory committee members, local economic development groups and taxpayers to learn how we can best meet their needs as well.”