Harper announces three finalists in search for president
Harper College's three finalists in the search for its next president will visit campus starting next week.
The Palatine-based community college's presidential search advisory committee selected the three candidates following a nationwide search that yielded 43 candidates. They are Johnny Moore, president of Pierpont Community & Technical College in Fairmont, West Virginia; Annette Parker, president of South Central College in North Mankato and Faribault, Minnesota; and Avis Proctor, president of Broward College North Campus in Coconut Creek, Florida.
“The finalists are experienced, visionary and collaborative leaders with demonstrated commitment to student success,” said Pat Stack, chair of the search committee and vice chair of Harper's board.
The board is expected to make a final selection in February.
The next president will become the sixth in Harper's history, succeeding Ken Ender, who is set to step down June 30 after a decade at the helm. The college's board kicked off the search for Ender's successor a year ago when it paid $19,000 to the Aspen Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based educational and policy studies organization, to develop a profile of desired characteristics in the next president and define the school's strengths and weaknesses. Last June, the board agreed to pay Asheville, North Carolina-based RH Perry and Associates up to $75,000 to assist the search committee with the recruitment and interview process.
The committee, which includes Harper administrators, faculty and foundation board trustees, conducted in-person interviews last month with 10 semifinalists.
The finalists are scheduled to meet with the Harper board, foundation board, administrators, students, faculty senate and union leadership when they come to campus beginning next week. Forums that are open to the public and campus community will take place in the Wojcik Conference Center Amphitheater on campus. The forums are scheduled for:
• Moore: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, and 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23.
• Parker: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, and 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25.
• Proctor: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, and 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29.
Afterward, the college board is set to meet in closed session Jan. 29 and Feb. 6, then make a selection and approve an employment contract in open session Feb. 13. The new president is expected to begin work in July.