Public gets chance to meet MCC president finalists
Public forums and meetings are scheduled throughout this week for vetting four finalists vying to be McHenry County College's next president.
Nominees are:
•Laurie Borowicz - vice president of student services at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, Wisconsin.
•Clinton Gabbard - vice president of student services at Lake Michigan College; previously serving in various roles at Walla Walla Community College, Purdue University and University of Notre Dame.
•Keith Cornille - senior vice president for student development at Madison Area Technical College, Madison, Wisconsin; previously serving in student services at Indiana University-Southeast, College of DuPage, and Richard J. Daley College in Chicago.
•Karla Fisher - vice president of academics responsible for six academic divisions at Butler Community College in Kansas.
Those four were gleaned from an initial pool of 66 candidates to replace President Vicky Smith, who retires Dec. 31. Smith came to MCC five years ago after serving as president of Neosho County Community College in eastern Kansas.
The president's base salary is between $210,000 and $220,000 yearly with added perks.
Community members can meet with the candidates individually at the following sessions:
• Tuesday: Borowicz, 1:15-2 p.m. in Room A217 (MCC board room); Gabbard, 3-4 p.m. in Room B166-167.
• Wednesday: Gabbard, 1:15-2 p.m. in Room A217; Cornille, 3-4 p.m. in B166-167
• Thursday: Cornille, 1:15-2 p.m. in Room A217; Fisher, 3-4 p.m. in Room B166-167
• Friday: Fisher, 1:15-2 p.m. in A217.
The presidential search has focused on "identifying candidates who will build upon the college's existing successes," MCC board chairman Michael Smith said in an open letter to the community.
"We expect the next president to have a deep commitment to student success, and he/she will elevate the stature of the college in the county, state, region, and nation," he wrote. "We hope that you will visit the college and share with the board your thoughts and perceptions of the candidates on the comment forms that will be available at each session."
College trustees will interview the candidates individually in closed session meetings Tuesday through Friday. The board will vote on its selection at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 17 in the MCC board room, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake.
For more information on the candidates, visit mchenry.edu.