HR0618 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0618 LRB102 24841 LAW 34087 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Christine J. Sobek, Ed.D., on the occasion of her 20th year serving as president of Waubonsee Community College; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek became the fourth president of Waubonsee Community College on July 1, 2001; in this role, she is responsible for the overall leadership of the college, which serves more than 14,000 students each year, employs approximately 1,100 employees, and provides educational programs and services at a network of four permanent campuses located across the 624-square-mile college district and through extensive virtual and online classes and services; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek has more than 40 years of community college administrative experience; she served in several administrative roles at Waubonsee Community College prior to her appointment as president, including provost from 2000 to 2001, executive vice president for Educational Affairs from 1997 to 2000, assistant vice president for Instruction from 1993 to 1997, assistant vice president for Student Development from 1991 to 1993, and dean of Student Development from 1989 to 1991; and

WHEREAS, Prior to joining Waubonsee Community College in 1989, Dr. Sobek served at the College of Lake County in Grayslake for 11 years, where her leadership roles included executive assistant to the president, director of Personnel, Affirmative Action officer, and director of Placement; she also served as an adjunct faculty member at Trinity College in Deerfield from 1985 to 1989 and as an assistant director of Student Affairs at Lyman Briggs Residential College at Michigan State University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek has participated in a number of local organizations, including serving as a member of the Invest Aurora Board of Directors, the Marmion Academy Board of Trustees, the Mutual Ground Advisory Board, the Conservation Foundation Leadership Board and as trustee emeritus, and serving as vice chair of the City of Aurora Education Commission and the Rush-Copley Medical Center Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek belongs to several regional, state, and national organizations; on the regional and state level, she is a member of the Illinois Facilities Fund, where she serves on the Chicago Area Local Market Advisory Committee, and the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents; on the national level, she belongs to the Association of American Colleges and Universities Presidents' Trust, the Alliance for Innovation and Transformation as an executive committee member and a secretary/treasurer, and the American Association of Community Colleges Advocacy Advisory Group; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek has received a number of accolades during her career, including Crain's Chicago Business Chicago's Notable Women in Education, the Quad County Urban League's Woman of Power Award, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society's Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, and the Illinois Community College Trustees Association Advocacy Award; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek earned her doctoral degree from Northern Illinois University, her master's degree from Michigan State University, and her bachelor's degree from Purdue University; she is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and an honorary member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Christine J. Sobek, Ed.D., on serving as president of Waubonsee Community College for the past 20 years, thank her for her commitment to the community and the State of Illinois, and wish her continued success; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Sobek as an expression of our esteem and respect.