Endorsements: Dunne, Incrocci for College of DuPage Board of Trustees.
Two new members will be elected to the College of DuPage board April 2 as four newcomers battle it out for the two 6-year slots.
Incumbents Alan Bennett and Joseph Wozniak are not seeking re-election. Hoping to take over on the Glen Ellyn-based school's board are: Dan Bailey, 66, of Wheaton; Annette Corrigan, 54, of Wheaton; Maureen Dunne, 43, of Naperville and Marc Incrocci, 40, of Darien.
Incrocci, director of organizational development at a Carol Stream trucking company, says COD could boost enrollment by providing training for people who want to learn a trade. He says the college has the facilities to work with local employers who are always searching for qualified workers. "The last three decades we told people you need a four-year degree or you can't make a living. That's just not true."
We like his approach and think he offers a differing view for the board. Incrocci is endorsed.
Dunne, co-founder and CEO of a company that advises technology startups, also sees boosting enrollment as a priority. She would focus on STEM - science, technology, engineering and mathematics - programs.
"I think it's important that the students at the college are being prepared for jobs that will exist five, 10 years from now," she said.
In addition to her technology advocacy, Dunne recently founded the Transition2Success Project, which helps DuPage County high schoolers on the autism spectrum better handle the transition out of high school and into either the job market or a higher learning institution, and set up an autism student scholarship at College of DuPage.
She also is a COD graduate who went on to be a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford. She brings a well-rounded, impressive resume and has a proven commitment to the school. Dunne earns our endorsement.
Corrigan, an attorney who, along with Incrocci, is supported by current COD board President Frank Napolitano, is interested in COD's efforts to build a program for residents with disabilities. Having a child with cognitive disabilities who now attends a different college, she understands the need. We encourage her to continue to work with the school on that program. Bailey, a retired registered nurse and railroad engineer, said COD must do more to market itself and to reach out to nontraditional and more diverse students.