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COD interim president re-enters search for permanent post

Interim College of DuPage President Brian Caputo once again is a candidate to become the next permanent president of the school.

Caputo last week withdrew his name from consideration hours before he was slated to be introduced to the public as one of three finalists for the post. But on Monday night, the Glen Ellyn-based school's board of trustees asked Caputo to reconsider.

So Caputo has re-entered the search and is now a presidential candidate, officials said.

"Clearly, we want to make the best decision and hire the best person for the college," COD board Chairman Frank Napolitano said Tuesday. "There's a lot going on at the college right now."

The other finalists being considered by the school's board of trustees are Johnny Moore, president of Pierpont Community & Technical College in Fairmont, West Virginia, and Ken Trzaska, president of Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kansas.

Napolitano said Caputo cited a personal reason last week when he withdrew from the search process. That issue has since resolved itself.

"The board is confident that it's been resolved and was interested in having Caputo continue (his application process)," Napolitano said.

A special meeting on Monday night was the first opportunity the board had to meet privately with Caputo and ask him to remain in the search.

"I think the board just wants to make sure we have all options and that all the options go through the appropriate process," Napolitano said.

Caputo has been serving as interim president since Jan. 1 when he was named to replace Ann Rondeau, who stepped down after roughly 2½ years to accept a post as president of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

Before being named interim president, Caputo served as COD's vice president of administrative affairs and treasurer.

COD trustees want to complete interviews with the finalists before making a decision about who will replace Rondeau. Moore and Trzaska were interviewed and participated in public candidate forums last week.

Caputo is scheduled to appear at a public forum at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Student Services Center on the school's Glen Ellyn campus at 425 Fawell Blvd.

Forum questions may be submitted to presidentialsearch@cod.edu.

All three finalists for the president position were recommended by a 16-member search committee.

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