Oakton Board grants Margaret Burke Lee emerita status

(Jan. 20, 2016) In recognition of her many years of service and distinguished leadership at Oakton Community College, former president and professor of English Margaret B. Lee, who retired June 30, 2015, has been given the distinction of President Emerita.

The Oakton Board of Trustees approved emeritus status for Lee and seven retired faculty members at its Jan. 19 board meeting. Emeritus status is an honor conferred by the college to show respect for a distinguished career.

Lee, Oakton’s third president, is past chair of the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents, the Higher Learning Commission Board of Directors and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Wilmette resident also served on the Executive Committee of the American Association of Community Colleges and the American Academic Leadership Institute.

Lee began her service to Oakton in 1985 as vice president for Academic Affairs and professor of English. In 1995, she succeeded Thomas TenHoeve as president, a position she held for 20 years.

Under Lee’s stewardship, the New York Times named Oakton among the best community colleges in the country. She was named one of the “Most Powerful and Influential Women in Illinois” by the National Diversity Council in 2012. She received numerous awards and distinction for her work promoting equity, diversity and lifelong learning, including commendation by State Rep. Martin Moylan for her commitment to the people of Illinois and visionary leadership in higher education.

The emeritus faculty include the following, listed by retirement year:

• Professor of Economics Joyce Bremer (2005);
• Professor of English Deborah Albano (2015);
• Professor of Manufacturing David Geller (2015);
• Professor of Computer Technologies and Information Systems Harold Ogg (2015);
• Professor of Mathematics Nancy Ressler (2015);
• Professor Physical Therapist Assistant Mary DeNotto (2015); and
• Professor of Biology Cecelia Hutchcraft (2015).

Full-time faculty who retire from Oakton with at least 10 years of full-time service may request a Faculty Emeritus appointment within four years of the effective date of retirement as stipulated in the agreement between the college and its full-time faculty association.

Faculty Emeritus and Administrator Emeritus members are entitled to have their name listed in a section of the college catalog, to receive tuition waivers for three courses of their choice taken during a calendar year, to access and check out library materials and to have inter-library loan privileges.panels.