The COD Board of Trustees approved Muddassir Siddiqui as the new college president at its most recent February meeting. He will begin his tenure on July 1, 2025, making him the eighth president of COD. He will succeed interim President Christine Hammond, who served temporarily as president while the college searched for a permanent candidate. Board Chair Christine Fenne said Hammond and Siddiqui would work together to maintain a continuous transition. His contract will extend until June 2028, with a base salary of $300,000.
Siddiqui earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Northern Alabama, a master’s degree in industrial technology from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a doctorate of education from Northern Illinois University. Siddiqui served in administrative roles at other community colleges. At Morton College in Cicero, Ill., he served as interim president, vice president and provost. Siddiqui also served as president of Central College in Houston, Texas. Most recently, he is the vice chancellor of Instructional Innovation and Digital Strategy for the Houston Community College system.
At the meeting, Dr. Siddiqui spoke to the board and community members regarding his gratitude for this opportunity.
“It is an honor to join a college that stands as a beacon of educational excellence in Illinois and beyond. The College of DuPage is a remarkable institution that meets the diverse needs of 24,000 students with an unparalleled commitment to affordability, high-quality education and student-centered support services,” said Siddiqui.
“I believe the trajectory of College of DuPage has positioned us as a national leader among community colleges. Together we will build on this legacy, continue to innovate and remain a vital resource for our students and the communities we serve,” Siddiqui concluded.
Siddiqui was appointed by the Presidential Search Committee, an 18-person task force encompassing professors, staff, community members and two non-voting student representatives. The committee was also supported by private, Philadelphia-based company Diversified Search Groups, which helps to find qualified candidates for various executive positions.
A new president was needed after Brian Caputo retired after serving 5 years, citing that he wanted to spend more time with his family, as his son’s family moved to Chicagoland, and church service.
During public comment, Political Science Professor and President of the Faculty Association Dr. David Goldberg noted the efficacy of this search process.
“I can say with certainty that this process was a dramatic improvement over recent versions, both in the process and in the outcome,” said Goldberg.
There was controversy over the selection of Caputo’s predecessor, Ann Rondeau, for what some would label non-transparent practices. Former Trustee Joseph Wozniak spoke to the Courier, at the time, regarding concerns over the presidential search committee being politically motivated and partisan. Most notably, community members voiced concerns over the appointment of Illinois representative Jeanne Ives to the search committee due to her inflammatory statements and lack of experience in higher education administration.
Additionally, the board elected to hire an external candidate to replace Caputo. Previously, the Board (including Chair Fenne) had unanimously concluded that the president should be a faculty member before ultimately appointing Caputo.
