Morton College undergoes reorganization

CICERO – Three administrators will transition to new roles and two positions will not be filled following the departure of Morton College Provost Muddassir Siddiqi, who resigned to assume a new role as president of Houston Community College effective Feb. 1.

The college's Board of Trustees has approved the recommendation of college President Stan Fields to reorganize some of the college’s leadership roles in an effort to save the institution more than $112,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year, according to a news release from the college.

The positions of director of student activities and vice president of institutional planning and effectiveness will not be filled at this time, resulting in cost savings from salaries and benefits, the release stated.

There were no staff layoffs under the new reorganization, and no student or community services were eliminated, according to the release.

“We are assigning responsibilities to staff that best leverage their unique talents,” Fields said in the release. “In doing so, we’ll be able to thoughtfully reallocate resources to benefit student success.”

Keith McLaughlin, former vice president of institutional planning and effectiveness, will now serve as interim provost. McLaughlin has more than 24 years of experience working in community colleges across the country. Since joining Morton College in 2010, he has served as associate dean of instruction, dean of careers and technical education, and vice president of institutional advancement before becoming vice president of institutional planning and effectiveness.

Marisol Velazquez, former director of student activities, will now be the director of student development. She also previously served as an adjunct faculty for a special seminar course. Prior to joining the Morton College team in 2008, she worked for the city of Chicago, assisting youth in securing quality employment opportunities, and served as a teaching assistant at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

William Jacklin will continue to serve as the college's athletic director, a role he has held since 2015, and also will take on the duties of director of student activities. Previously, Jacklin taught elementary and middle school and coached boys and girls soccer and boys basketball at schools within the district.

"The budget stalemate in Springfield has affected us all,” Fields said. “Noting the state’s financial crisis and our commitment to a flat, responsive organizational structure, it is prudent to continue to search for efficiencies to ensure the very best experience for our students’ success. All of us at Morton College, including our Trustees, faculty and staff, are committed to ensuring the very best for our students and the community we call home.”