HR0964 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0964 LRB099 15923 MST 40239 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Dr. Gayle Saunders on the occasion of her retirement as President of Richland Community College in Decatur; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Saunders became the 6th President of Richland Community College in August of 2001; she has more than 37 years of experience as an administrator in higher education, with the past 31 years spent specifically in community college administration; she served in a variety of administrative positions prior to being named President of Richland; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, Dr. Saunders selected the Academic Quality Improvement Program for the reaccreditation of Richland Community College; under her leadership, Richland has seen the addition of the Scherer Industrial Technology Center (2002), the Schrodt Health Education Center (2003), the Duane O. Andreas Agribusiness Education Center (2006), the Adele P. Glenn Early Childhood Education Center (2007), the Center for Sustainability and Innovation (2008), the Mathematics Enrichment Center (2010), the National Sequestration Education Center (2011), and the Workforce Development Institute (2013) and the relocation of the Heartland Technical Academy (formerly the Decatur Area Technical Academy) to the Richland campus (2014); the College has seen curriculum additions in the areas of Culinary Arts; Auto Collision Repair; Diesel Medium/Heavy Truck Technology; Supply Chain Management; Healthcare Documentation; Sign Language; Commercial Drivers Tanker Vehicle Training; Engineering, with an emphasis in Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage; and Robotic Welding; and

WHEREAS, Under Dr. Saunders' presidency, Decatur was chosen in 2004 as one of the permanent sites for the Farm Progress Show; this past September marked the 10th anniversary of the Farm Progress Show being held on the campus of Richland Community College; the Richland Community College Foundation has flourished under her leadership and is ranked among the top community college foundations in the nation; in June of 2010, the Foundation announced it had reached its Major Gifts Campaign goal of $17 million, 2 years ahead of schedule; the impact of the Foundation is reflected at the local level by the hundreds of student scholarships it provides, representing over three-quarters of a million dollars in scholarship support annually; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Saunders' passion for quality education has been proven through her efforts in the national arena with the Continuous Quality Improvement Network (Executive Secretary and Treasurer), the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Economic Development and Workforce Training and the Presidents' Academy Executive Committee, the Commission on Global Education through the American Association of Community Colleges, and the American Association of Community College Trustees Presidents' Advisory Committee; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Saunders has served in various capacities throughout her career, including the Illinois Community College Presidents' Council (past President), the Illinois Leadership and Core Values Institute (Steering Committee), the Commission on Global Education through the American Association of Community Colleges, Rotary International, the American Red Cross - mid-Illinois Chapter, the United Way of Decatur and mid-Illinois, and Easter Seals Central Illinois; she currently serves as a member of Partners in Education (Steering Committee), the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce (past President), the Soy Capital Bank and Trust Board of Directors; Webster-Cantrell Hall, and the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Saunders is a recipient of several awards for her leadership and community involvement, including the Athena Award (2004), the YWCA Woman of the Year Award (2006), the Salute Honoree for Partners in Education (2007), and the Herald and Review's 20 Over 50 - making a difference in our community (2014); and

WHEREAS, Dr. Saunders is a native of Harvard; she holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Illinois State University, a Master of Science in Counseling and Student Personnel from Eastern Illinois University, and a Doctorate in Leadership and Educational Policy Studies from Northern Illinois University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Saunders will officially retire in the spring of 2016; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. Gayle Saunders on her retirement as President of Richland Community College and we wish her the best in all her future endeavors; and be it further

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