The Waubonsee Community College Board of Trustees officially approved the retirement of Dr. Christine J. Sobek at their April 20, 2022 board meeting. And, in recognition of Dr. Sobek’s 21 years of distinguished service, commitment, leadership, and contributions as President of the college, the board also approved the bestowing of the honorary title of President Emeritus upon her retirement. Dr. Sobek’s effective date of retirement from her role as President of Waubonsee Community College is January 4, 2023.
Since Dr. Sobek began her role as President on July 1, 2001, the college has served 189,429 students earning 2,829,005 credit hours. Through her vision and steadfast leadership, the college has grown in stature locally and regionally across four permanent campuses located in the 624-square-mile college district.
Dr. Sobek's efforts transformed and strengthened the college by achieving its infrastructure growth outlined in the 2020 College Master Plan five years earlier than projected and under budget. Under Dr. Sobek's stewardship, the college saw its most recent significant expansion with the construction of five new buildings on the college's Sugar Grove Campus, the opening of the new Aurora Downtown Campus location, and the opening of the new Plano Campus.
Dr. Sobek has championed the college's commitment to student equity and success. Under Dr. Sobek's leadership, Waubonsee was one of the first community colleges in Illinois to obtain the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) designation.
The college re-engineered what student success means for its more than 30% Latinx students and many first-generation students, by having candid conversations around access, retention, graduation completion. These efforts resulted in the college securing three Title V grants totaling almost $9 million received since 2010. Waubonsee has used this funding to drive necessary student programming, such as the opening of a Latinx Resource Center (LRC), located at the Aurora Downtown Campus.
In addition, Dr. Sobek has led highly comprehensive funding initiatives that increased funding for student scholarships by more than 300 percent in college history. During disruptions brought on by conditions of the pandemic, Dr. Sobek also worked with numerous stakeholders at the college to assure students could still complete their academic goals. The college created one-time college-funded scholarships and grants in the amount of $2.4 million for students.
"Working for Waubonsee Community College will always be the highest honor of my professional life. I believe in the power of education to open doors and transform lives, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have served in this capacity, providing a place of hope for so many people in the community," said Dr. Sobek reflecting on her tenure as the longest-standing president at Waubonsee.
Dr. Sobek believes in enthusiastically giving back to the community and is active within the Waubonsee community. Dr. Sobek was appointed to the City of Aurora Education Commission by the Aurora City Council and was appointed Vice Chair by City of Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Rush-Copley Medical Center Board of Directors, and as a member of the Marmion Academy Board of Trustees, the Invest Aurora Board of Directors, the Mutual Ground Advisory Board and The Conservation Foundation Leadership Board. Regional and statewide roles include the State of Illinois Financial Empowerment Task Force and Illinois Facilities Fund, Chicago Area Local Market Advisory Committee Member, and past president of the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents. National leadership roles include service as Secretary/Treasurer for the Alliance for Innovation and Transformation Executive Committee, and as an Association of American Colleges and Universities Presidents’ Trust member and an American Association of Community Colleges Advocacy Advisory Group member. Dr. Sobek previously served as a board member for the American Association of Community Colleges.
Dr. Sobek earned a doctoral degree from Northern Illinois University, a master's degree from Michigan State University, and a bachelor's degree from Purdue University with Highest Distinction. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and an honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. She also completed Harvard University's Seminar for Experienced Presidents.
Dr. Sobek has been the recipient of many honors, including being selected as a Chicago's Notable Women in Education sponsored by Crain Chicago's Business; the Outstanding Alumni Award from Northern Illinois University; the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction by Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society; an Influential Women in Business award sponsored by The Business Ledger; the Michigan State University College of Education Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award; a Quad County Urban League Lifetime Achievement Award; and the National Council of Marketing and Public Relations District 3 Pacesetter of the Year Award. Dr. Sobek is one of six finalists for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) CEO of the Year award to be announced May 2, 2022 during the AACC Annual convention. She regularly presents at national and regional conferences and has authored articles in local and national publications.
"I speak on behalf of the entire Board of Trustees and the college community when I say how much we will miss Dr. Sobek's passion and commitment to Waubonsee's mission and students," says Waubonsee Community College Board of Trustee Chair Rebecca Oliver. "Her transformational leadership at Waubonsee has profoundly impacted countless lives across our community."
With the formal approval of Dr. Sobek’s retirement, the Board of Trustees announced their intention to conduct a national presidential search for the college’s fifth president and to contract for the services of a professional search and consultation firm to assist with the search process. The board is forming a Board Transition Committee to oversee the selection of a search firm and other related tasks. Michele Needham, Executive Director of Human Resources, will serve as the administrative liaison to the Board Transition Committee.
To view Dr. Sobek's retirement recognition webpage, visit waubonsee.edu/drsobek.
