News

Waubonsee Community College is pleased to announce the appointment of Sharon Garcia as the new Assistant Provost of Teaching and Learning. Previously, Garcia served as the Executive Dean for Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Waubonsee Community College is pleased to announce the appointment of Ne’Keisha Stepney as the new Assistant Provost of Workforce Development. Since joining the college in 2009, Stepney has served in various leadership roles.

Waubonsee Community College has announced its 2024 Outstanding Adjunct Faculty member, Debra Gardner, Adjunct Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Gardner, of Batavia, has served Waubonsee since 2013.  

Each year, Waubonsee Community College names an Outstanding Faculty Member. This award is given to educators who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and innovation in their field. This year’s Outstanding Faculty Member is Kathleen Randall, Professor of Education. Randall has served Waubonsee as a full-time Education instructor since 2002 and has led the department since then.  

Dr. Sheela Vemu, Associate Professor of Biology, was recently honored as the state’s 2024 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member by the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA). This award recognizes faculty who are the heart and soul of Illinois' educational institutions.

Sugar Grove – A Waubonsee Community College faculty member has been recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Dr. Sheela Vemu, Associate Professor of Biology, was selected as one of 36 faculty for the 2024 Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction Recognition. This award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond what is required to ensure students succeed academically.  

When speaking with enrolled members of different tribal groups during Native American Heritage Month or otherwise, a prevalent theme often emerges: First Nation peoples are not merely or only historical societies. That is – within the American zeitgeist, we often conjure black and white images of native peoples, standing stern-faced, clad in eagle-feathered headdresses and wearing long-bone beads across bare chests. Such stereotypes not only over-generalize the incredibly rich and diverse 570+ tribes recognized in the U.S., but also paint a picture that First Nation peoples have more in common with the Ancient Sumerians or Romans, rather than the contemporary world.

As the Dean for Student Engagement, I am constantly reflecting on the significance of student engagement and its numerous benefits for personal and professional growth and the broader community. When students participate in campus or community activities, such as joining student organizations, attending social events, and interacting with others, it positively affects their well-being, mental health, and overall satisfaction.

Can you recall the last task you procrastinated on? What was the outcome? Chances are, you might not have fully comprehended the benefits of completing it or visualized the progress it could lead to, which made it difficult to understand the necessary steps or believe that it was achievable.

In March 2020, the world changed, and so did my teaching. The Association for College and University Educators (ACUE) launched its first course, Effective Teaching Practices, in July 2019 and when I was included in the first, little did I know the impact it would have on my future teaching career.