Dr. Seamus Reilly was officially approved as the next President of Carl Sandburg College this past Wednesday. Reilly has for the past decade been at Parkland College in Champaign where he began as a full-time instructor in 1997 before working his way up to be the VP of Institutional Advancement. Reilly lists some of the things that attracted him to Sandburg; the diversity of people and in turn how interesting as well as complicated the college and its large district are.
“I know there has been economic difficulties in the district in the last few years but I’m very optimistic about what’s happening and the folks I have met so far.” Reilly goes on to say, “Carl Sandburg does has an excellent reputation thanks in part to its outstanding board.”
He also credits Dr. Lori Sundberg for her work as president in building Sandburg’s reputation. Reilly comments that the community college has a vital role to play because as he says, “it’s the primary access to education for the population” and for the role Sandburg plays in workforce development. He goes on to cite programs like the Galesburg Promise and newly minted Sampson Promise as avenues to widen access to the educational opportunities for the public.
