Local election 2025 Q&A: DACC Board of Trustees

Yahoo

27-03-2025

On April 1, several elections will take place across Vermilion County, including those for alderperson, mayor of Hoopeston, Georgetown, and Westville, school boards, DACC college board, and village trustees.
As part of this year's local election coverage, the Commercial-News is running a series of question and answer stories, giving each candidate a chance to share their vision for their community so voters can make a more informed decision when they head to the polls.
Today, we learn more about a few of the candidates running for a trustee position on Danville Area Community College's Board of Trustees — Lisa Martin, Gregory Wolfe, Aaron Biggs, Laura Williams, and Amanda Krabbe.
Candidates were limited to three sentences each in their answers.
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WHAT EXPERTISE WOULD YOU BRING TO THE BOARD?
Lisa Martin: "I aim to leverage my DACC graduate education, including a Master of Science in Education from the University of Kansas with a focus on social and behavioral sciences, as well as special education and transition, to effectively contribute to the board's initiatives that promote the inclusion of all students and help others access similar opportunities."
Aaron Biggs: "I bring expertise in manufacturing, critical thinking, and project management, which are essential for aligning DACC's programs with workforce needs. My experience allows me to represent a key sector —industrial/manufacturing — that is currently underrepresented on the board. This background will help ensure the Board's decisions reflect and aligns the community's employment landscape and needs."
Gregory Wolfe: "I bring 12 years of passion and experience as a trustee. I am very active in the state and national trustees association, where I also hold leadership roles. I learn, network, and bring back ideas for our board to discuss and consider, and I am also a strong, proven leader who gets things done through good times and bad."
Laura Williams: "The expertise I will bring is 28 years as a DACC employee along with two years as a student; a collective 30 years of experience that has given me insight into all aspects of the college. Additionally, I have a Master's in Education degree, specifically in higher education administration from the University of Illinois. I have proven leadership qualities as evidenced by my many promotions in administrative roles, my ability to bridge gaps between student/employee needs and administrative/fiscal responsibilities, and my role in helping DACC become an Achieving the Dream Institution on the national stage."
Amanda Krabbe: "I have experience and insight from all sides of the college: I am a graduate of DACC, I taught at DACC for 16 years obtaining an employee perspective, both of my older kids attended DACC and as a parent I learned to navigate that part of the system as well, and now, I have guided high school students through the enrollment process too. I want to see support and unity from the part-time faculty and employees to the students they serve. We need to do whatever it takes to keep DACC here and going strong for many more generations."
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HOW WILL YOU WORK TO IMPROVE DACC FOR THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION?
Martin: "I will work toward improving disability services, expanding credit-transferable certificate programs for Associate's Degree pathways, incorporating AI instruction for our students, and continuing to support the expertise of our staff and administration."
Biggs: "I will work to improve DACC by first thoroughly understanding the college's mission, structure, and needs through deep immersion. Then, I'll build strategic relationships with leadership and staff to align governance with the college's goals. Finally, I'll advocate for student success by supporting relevant, career-focused programs and expanding support services to ensure job readiness."
Wolfe: "I have always made my number one priority student access and success, and that will never change. Hiring a new President is a top priority as it establishes leadership that aligns with the college and board's goals, mission and expectations."
Williams: "Amongst my top three priorities is to ensure student success by offering diversified career paths, strengthening partnerships with K-12, investing and keeping up with rapidly-changing technology in the classrooms, establishing clear paths with business/industry, and investing more in the Faculty experience. Second, Workforce Training will be bolstered by securing business/industry partnerships that engage resources and provide on-the-job experience in order to produce competent employees, diagnose real-world skill gaps, and identify emerging best-practices. Finally, the Financial Stability and future of the College must be prioritized immediately by seeking innovative grants and funding opportunities, maximizing student engagement and recruitment, leveraging State/national resources, and revisiting policy to ensure income matches output."
Krabbe: "My top priorities are to keep DACC here in Danville and accessible to everyone, to help DACC to stay focused on the needs of those they serve: the students! I also want to encourage DACC to spend more time in the community."
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WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU BELIEVE THE BOARD SHOULD LOOK FOR IN A NEW, PERMANENT PRESIDENT AFTER DR. FLETCHER'S INTERIM PRESIDENCE ENDS IN JUNE?
Martin: "The next president of DACC should hold a Doctorate in Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field, and possess the necessary experience and skills to enhance the college reputation, with key attributes including strong communication, active listening, problem solving abilities, and the capacity to collaborate with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, and governing boards."
Biggs: "The Board should seek a president who deeply engages with students, faculty, and the community while balancing the operational needs of the college. This individual must have a strong vision for growth, innovation, and addressing future challenges in higher education while balancing the understanding of growth through engagement with the local workforce and the community. Collaborative leadership and strategic thinking are essential qualities for guiding DACC toward long-term success and sustainability."
Wolfe: "[The next president should be] a person with integrity and character, who communicates well. Our next president needs to be open to new ideas, honest with staff and faculty, and very visible on campus and in the community. They must move the college forward and understand the college culture quickly and respect it."
Williams: "I want a president that has proven leadership skills with a track record of moving an institution forward, someone who is innovative with unquestionable integrity, and a transparent visionary with a shared dream who honors our past and builds enthusiasm about our future. I want a leader who understands it takes every single person doing what they do every single day to make the College a place where students, faculty and employees want to be. Finally, I want a leader who helps guide DACC to be the college all other colleges want to be."
Krabbe: "I envision the new president bringing the connectivity and the family atmosphere back to DACC. I expect the new president to work diligently to make employees /instructors feel valued and supported by the administration. The new president will provide a rigorous and practical education that will keep students motivated to succeed beyond expectations."