Changes are on the way for Triton College’s Board of Trustees. At its June 16 meeting, Board Chairman Mark Stephens announced the resignation of Vanessa Moritz, a board member elected in April 2013. Moritz, who is also the village clerk in Forest Park, cited personal reasons for her resignation. The board has 60 days to fill the vacant position per the Illinois Public Community College Act.
Triton is a two-year community college located in River Grove. The school’s board consists of seven members elected to serve six-year terms. Once appointed, the new trustee will serve until the next regular election in April 2017.
There are a few requirements for potential trustees. Any candidate must be at least 18 years of age and have resided within Triton Community College District #504, for one year. The district comprises 25 communities and is bounded by Rosemount to the north, Oak Park to the east, Riverside to the south and Beverly to the west.
Any interested individuals should submit a letter of interest and resume to Susan Page, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Triton College, Office of the President, Building A, Room A-301, 2000 N. Fifth Avenue, River Grove, IL 60171, by July 16.
The current trustees are Mark Stephens, chairman, of Rosemont; Donna Peluso, vice chairman, of Melrose Park; Diane Viverito, secretary, of Melrose Park; Luke Casson, of Oak Park; Glover Johnson, of Oak Park; Elizabeth Potter, of Brookfield; and J. Gustavo Munoz, student trustee.
Oak Parkers head search committee
Meanwhile, Chairman Stephens announced the formation of a presidential search committee to find a permanent replacement for current interim college president, Mary Rita Moore.
Moore, working on an 18-month contract, was appointed in January 2015 after the retirement of Patricia Granado, who served for 13 years. Moore is a native of Norridge and a Dominican University graduate who started working at Triton in 1983. She has performed a variety of jobs at the school, but her most recent post, before being named interim president, was a three-year stint as associate vice president of strategic planning.
The search committee will consist of 16 individuals, including board members, students, faculty, administration officials and community participants. Trustees Glover Johnson and Luke Casson, both Oak Parkers, will co-chair the committee.
Stephens, who has chaired the board since 1992, said, “Our goal is to make the announcement [regarding the presidential selection] by the December 2015 board meeting.” Moore has already declared she will be submitting an application for the permanent position.
After considering all the candidates, the committee will present the board with a “manageable” list of 4 or 5 individuals, Stephens said. The board will then conduct a round of final interviews and take a vote. A majority of the seven-member board needs to agree on a final selection.
Stephens praised Moore’s short presidential tenure.
“I am very pleased with the progress of the school. … She is doing a fantastic job.” He continued to praise her “inclusive leadership” abilities before describing her as “extremely competent and extremely qualified.”
Despite the approbation for Moore, Stephens indicated a search committee has its benefits, too.
“It is never a bad idea to see what is out there” he said.
Although he remarked he would keep an “open mind” throughout the hiring process, Stephens concluded, “Someone is going to have to be very, very good to get my vote away from Mary.”