Vaseem Iftekhar: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Vaseem Iftekhar

City: Hawthorn Woods, Illinois

Office Sought: Trustee: College of Lake County School Board

Age: 71 yrs

Family: Married to Riffat Iftekhar - we have three children and three grandchildren. Sarah Iftekhar (daughter), Nadia Iftekhar (daughter), Osman Iftekhar (son)

Occupation: Retired Executive, Abbott Labs.

Education: BS (Major: Microbiology and Chemistry) MBA ( Major: Management)

Civic involvement: Founder and Chairman of Northern Illinois American Muslim Alliance, Former Secretary and Executive Committee Member of the Council of Islamic Organization of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), Recipient of community organizer of the year awarded by EDDI

Previous elected offices held: President of the Islamic Foundation North - Libertyville, IL (three-terms)

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? N/A

Website: VaseemIftekhar.com

Facebook: @vaseem4trustee

Twitter:

Issue questions

Describe your vision for the primary role of a community college.

Community college is a place of affordable learning and a gateway for advancement in further education and transition into the workplace. It provides vocational paths for those seeking alternatives to traditional education as well as a cost-effective option for families struggling to make ends meet. For some, community college is the last hope for access to post-secondary education. CLC should work more closely with local businesses to facilitate ongoing communication, meeting the demands of both our community and local employers. The Employer Partnership Program should be further strengthened to help students transition from school-to-work through partnerships with more than 250 Lake County employers. It's essential we maintain this personal connection between our community, schools, and potential employers. Continued outreach and recruitment efforts for students and educators are needed to ensure minority percentages are representative of populations residing in Lake County. I expect filling positions with quality faculty and staff that are characteristic of our county's demographic will be an ongoing goal.

How well is your community college fulfilling that role? What changes, if any, need to be made?

Lake County is diverse in culture, experience, and socio-economic status. One of the key strategic goals identified by the college is increasing its diversity. However, our current College of Lake County Board of Trustees lacks diversity, both ethnically and geographically. It is important to select qualified candidates who understand the needs of all sectors of our society, especially our minorities and our underserved populations. The western areas of Lake County are underrepresented populations at the college. Marketing programs that will increase public awareness of course offerings and college services should target these areas. A thorough analysis, including a review of transportation and other necessary student facilities, should be undertaken with the objective of increasing CLC's enrollment. The CLC Board of Trustees would also benefit from having members with additional expertise in the planning, execution and critical review of large projects. I hold an M.B.A. in Management and have three decades of experience in project managing and strategic planning, which will help in the management of current and ongoing contractual work.

Are you currently employed by or retired from a school district, if so, which one? Is any member of your direct family -- spouse, child or child-in-law -- employed by the school district where you are seeking a school board seat?

No.

Is a tax rate increase needed and, if so, how do you justify it?

Lake County residents are already burdened from paying one of the highest property taxes in Illinois. I'm not in favor of a tax increase. First, we must use existing funds in the most efficient manner. There's no question that CLC revenues must increase. This can happen through the following initiatives: · Build partnerships with businesses to increase the availability of grants. Many employers are located in Lake County and its surrounding areas that can be approached and who, in turn, will benefit from our strong, educated workforce. · Increase enrollment through increased marketing efforts in Lake County and surrounding areas. We can broaden our geographical focus by supporting unique and innovative programming such as CLC's laser/photonics/optics program, the only program of its kind available in Illinois. This growing field offers students promising career opportunities for a two-year degree. · Maintain periodic evaluations of projects. We must ensure cost-effectiveness and reduce programs in areas not justified by current enrollment.

Community colleges provide many services to a diverse population. Is there a service your college should be providing that it is not, or reaching a segment of the population that it is not?

We must continue encouraging minority populations to seek opportunities for higher education. Proportionately, fewer students are represented in our community colleges from African-American, Hispanic, and refugee and migrant populations. As a leader in the Muslim community after serving six years as president of the largest mosque in Lake County, the Islamic Foundation North in Libertyville, I'm able to reach out to underrepresented populations. I've also served as Board member and Secretary for the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, which serves over 50 mosques and religious institutions. I recently formed the organization, Northern Illinois American Muslim Alliance, which promotes member participation in political and other causes by encouraging them to vote. Through these organizations, I work closely with interfaith communities and with refugees who are very much in need of the education services available at CLC, which can help them become responsible and contributing members of our local community. Other community efforts include participating in, and leading fundraising drives for, deserving students attending Waukegan schools through Lake County United and Umma Center in Waukegan. I received the award, Community Worker of the Year, from the Eighth District Democrats and Independents for my work as a community organizer. This practical experience working with diverse groups will help to better connect our community with its services and resources.