PSC new pres - Tom Saban
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PSC interim president promises continuation of priorities, initiatives

Prairie State College interim president Thomas Saban has worked for the college since 2014, serving as vice president of finance and administration. (Official photo)

Thomas Saban, newly installed interim president at Prairie State College, said he is committed to keeping college priorities and initiatives on course and on time.

The college has converted to online coursework following Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Administrators are also performing tasks online and via email.

“We will continue to expand virtual offerings, including efficiencies and learning support for our students. We will continue to refine the ‘working from home’ approach, development of online classes and continued recruitment for summer and fall registration,” he added. 

Saban was put in charge of PSC after the District 515 board of trustees accepted the resignation of Terri L. Winfree on March 31. She had served as president since 2013.

Saban believes higher education, and community colleges in particular, will play an important part in the continued advancement of society during the pandemic and beyond. 

“The impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our economy, the workforce and future college students makes the role of an institution of higher ed – especially one dedicated to serving the community – paramount,” Saban said. “The most important thing is that PSC will continue to provide our community the excellent education and services that they have come to expect from us, albeit virtually for now.” 

Saban has been on the PSC administrative team since 2014 serving as vice president of finance and administration. He helped the college through financial constraints during the state of Illinois’ budget impasses of 2015 and 2017 that reduced state support and upended budget planning.

PSC Board Chairman Marc Wiley said this was one of the many reasons the board chose Saban to step into the college president’s position.

“Over the last several years that Dr. Saban has served as PSC vice president of finance and administration, he has shown his clear ability to provide strong leadership, especially during times of crisis,” Wiley said, noting Saban brought more than 20 years of educational administration experience to the job.

With that record “combined with the great work he has done since joining the PSC administration, I am confident that Dr. Saban will be an excellent leader as the college navigates through the COVID-19 crisis and beyond,” Wiley said.

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