I quoted Max De Pree on my way into Harold Washington College, and I’ll use the same quote on the way out: The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. It is time for me to say thank you. TheContinue reading “And In the End . . .”
Category Archives: HWC Community
The Loss of a Student
One of the things they don’t teach you in new president’s school is how to handle the calls you make to parents with condolences on the death of their child. While serving as president of Harold Washington, I have made these calls more often than I could have imagined. Our students have died from aContinue reading “The Loss of a Student”
There is No Food
That loud thud you may have heard at your office door was the sound of CCC’s 2014 budget book landing on your threshold. The product of hundreds of faculty and staff working over the course of five months, the FY2014 Budget Book highlights our accomplishments in the past year and plans for the coming year.Continue reading “There is No Food”
The Exonerated
“The Exonerated,” the current Loop Players’ production here at Harold Washington College, is not a great college production. It is a great production, period. I was riveted throughout. The cast was pitch-perfect, and they played their roles well. I experienced one of those transcendent moments in theater when you actually feel yourself believing these charactersContinue reading “The Exonerated”
Year Two
Today marks my second anniversary as president of Harold Washington College. People ask how it’s going. I sometimes reply, “Well, the place hasn’t burned down yet.” We have endured two floods during my tenure, one invisible to the college community (thanks, Rich) and the other dealt with in time to open 8 am classes (thanksContinue reading “Year Two”
Speaking Truth to Power
One of my fears as a leader is becoming isolated or disconnected from the people I aspire to lead. I am constantly asking for feedback, criticism, guidance. After each speech, I ask someone I trust, “What did you think? What could have been better?” Similarly, in meetings, I ask the assembled teams to challenge ourContinue reading “Speaking Truth to Power”
Harold Washington
The Sun-Times has a nice article marking the anniversary of Mayor Harold Washington’s passing, twenty-five years ago today. Mayor Washington died the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. On Friday, he lay in state in City Hall. The lines waiting to see him in the gusty raw November days stretched around the block on LaSalle, Randolph, Clark and Washington. NewsContinue reading “Harold Washington”
Electric Electra
The Loop Players present Sophocles’ Electra, using Frank McGuinness’ adaptation. The play is a must-see for everyone at the College, their family and friends, and anyone else you want to impress with the high quality of drama at HWC. I saw a rehearsal performance last night. Directed by Kathryn Nash, this modern update of the classicContinue reading “Electric Electra”
Skill, Will and Systems
Last year at the State of the College address, I called on our staff to treat students better. Most of our people treat students very well. Yet I had witnessed or had reports from students about situations and behaviors that did not reflect well on us. I broke the situation down into Skill and Will.Continue reading “Skill, Will and Systems”
New Shoes
Today I wore my first-day-of-classes shoes while welcoming students to the College. Each First Day brings new insights on what we can do to serve students better. By far the biggest challenge is those students who walk in and say, “I’d like to register for classes here.” “Have you taken your placement test?” I ask.Continue reading “New Shoes”
Don's Desk 