impact
Your community college
“Old School”
The “kids” on COD’s hoops squad call Jermaine
Townes “Old School.” But really, the 39-year-old
freshman is teaching contemporary lessons on
starting over.
A veteran of Desert Storm—a war his teammates
know only through history books—Townes is the
oldest player ever to try out for the Chaparrals.
But the 6'4" forward has game—one he learned
on Chicago’s playgrounds and honed on the U.S.
Navy basketball team. He also brings athletic
prowess from high school football and baseball.
Now he holds court with teens and twentysomethings.
“I’m old enough to be their pops,” said Townes.
“It feels good to still be able to run with them and
communicate with them.”
Townes’ assists go beyond basketball.
After his parents died when he was just 6 years
old, Townes became a transient.
“I was pretty much living with everyone in the
family,” said Townes. “Wherever I went, they
understood I was just going to be there until I got
tired and I left.”
With no one to encourage his education, said
Townes, “I struggled through high school, and I
believe what made me stay and finish was sports.
I didn’t want to stop playing sports.”
He slid by academically, then decided his only
path out of Chicago’s west side was college or the
military. Unprepared for a scholarship, he chose the
Navy, shipping out on July 3, 1990.
College of DuPage :: impact :: cod.edu/impact
Vol. 1, No. 1
teaches modern lesson on
versatility, lifelong learning
“The best move I ever made,” said Townes. “I’ve
been around the world twice. I’ve seen so many
countries I can’t even name them all.”
Townes served during and after Desert Storm,
starting out as a shipboard cook, then becoming a
paralegal, assisting Navy JAG officers.
Years later, Townes was working a regular job
when the 2008 recession hit. “I was just sitting
home, watching TV a lot, and I kept hearing
about school.”
So he moved to Lombard, found COD, and
applied.
Today, Townes is studying computer systems,
earning top grades, and dishing advice on
versatility and lifelong learning.
“Do as much as you can,” said Townes. “Learn
as much as you can. You can never, ever know
everything or know too much. Because one minute,
your profession can be up and running—and a
recession hits, and your profession could be gone.”
The key, said Townes, is education.
“COD has really helped me mature in school,
and mentally and athletically. I can’t say enough
about how much COD is helping me. When I came
to school, I was scared of the curriculum, because
I didn’t know if I could actually do it. But I always
knew that if all these other hundreds of thousands
of people can do it, why can’t I?”
Kind of like winning a fast break against an
18-year-old kid.
Serving our Veterans
For many veterans the transition from military to
civilian life is challenging, more so, trying to fit in on a
college campus. Shelly Mencacci, COD’s coordinator of
Veterans Services, believes that outreach is crucial not
only for vets, but for those still on active duty.
“We’re committed to having full-time staff
available to counsel and advise veterans and military
personnel and to provide career placement assistance.
We’re also continually upgrading our online offerings so
active duty personnel don’t have to put their education
on hold while they are serving our country,” she said.
COD’s efforts on behalf of veterans earned the
College a place in the 2011 Guide to Military Friendly
Schools. The list recognizes the top 15 percent of
colleges, universities and trade schools doing the most
to embrace America’s veterans as students.
Find out more about the services available for
veterans and active duty military by visiting our
website: cod.edu/impact.
1
This Land is
Homeland
COD delivers the finest training
facility in the U.S.
“With many of our students earning degrees and getting jobs in our
community, residents can rest easier knowing that their local police,
firefighters and paramedics will be the best trained in the country,” said COD
Fire Science Coordinator Darryl Haefner.
When the Homeland Security Education Center (HSEC) opens this fall
it will provide first responders with the first non-military municipal 4-D
immersive training facility in the country.
“We’re integrating everything we need all in one place,” said Bill Lawler, COD’s
Suburban Law Enforcement Academy Director. “I’ve been in the police force for
more than 30 years and this goes way beyond anything I have ever encountered.”
Hands-on training better prepares first responders for real-life emergencies.
Teaching as though
your life depends on it
A loved one suffers a heart attack.
A tanker spills hazardous materials.
A gunman takes hostages.
A fire traps dozens.
A tornado rips through town.
We read about these situations every day. But when you call 911, who will
answer? Who gets dispatched to the scene? Will operators, police officers,
firefighters, haz-mat teams, SWAT teams, EMTs, and others have the
cutting-edge training your community needs?
With TV dramas oversimplifying police work, crime labs, court cases, ERs
and more, it’s easy to forget how difficult public safety jobs can be and how
vital the training that goes into them.
So when there’s a life on the line—yours, a loved one’s, a neighbor’s—
consider this: The National Center for Education Statistics reports that
nearly 80 percent of America’s first responders are credentialed by
community colleges—including COD.
And with the interaction between those responders increasingly
important during today’s complex emergencies, COD’s new Homeland
Security Education Center will bring integrated, state-of-the-art training
closer to home than ever.
Local safety officials say that means a more secure community for
residents and more career potential for interested students.
“Emergency responders have changed dramatically over the last 10 to
15 years. And really over the last 2-3 years, the emphasis on emergency
management has been the key,” said Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis.
“It’s important to have a curriculum and a training base—especially nearby.”
Addison Police Chief Tom Hayden agrees.
“We need people who can be educated and receive
certificates at the college level—people who are certified
that we know receive good training and education to
respond to these issues.”
We hope you never have to call 911, but if
you do, COD is working to ensure that your
first response is a true lifesaver.
2
The 4-D immersive street scene will provide students with the most realistic training
experience possible.
The cornerstone of the HSEC is a three-story street scene complete with
full-scale streets, sidewalks and working fire hydrants and will feature:
• An ambulance simulator
• Lighting system to simulate night or day rescues
• Moveable walls for vertical and horizontal firefighter rescues
• Fire trucks driven onto the street that can ladder buildings and
lay hose lines
• A sophisticated video system providing live feeds to classrooms
• Observation spaces for students and instructors
“There is really nothing in the area at all like this,” Lawler added. “This will
be THE place to be to do this type of training.”
SLEA is “second to none”
Since 1994, COD’s Suburban Law Enforcement Academy has trained
thousands of police officers through its Basic Academy and Continuing
Education courses. The program is a prior recipient of the Governors Award for
Excellence in Law Enforcement Training and Organizational Achievement and
is recognized as a leader in the development of public safety professionals in
the Midwest.
“Students seeking a job in police work and current police officers keeping up
on the latest training know our program is second to none,” said SLEA Director
Bill Lawler.
The Basic Academy is led by a team of state-certified instructors with
courses that range from traffic stops and crimes in progress to building
searches and street stops.
Continuing Education courses include identity theft, cyber hacking and
stalking, computer fraud and death investigation with certificates in homeland
security and financial crimes.
80%
of first responders
are trained at community colleges.
College of DuPage :: impact :: cod.edu/impact
Community colleges play a critical role training professionals
such as law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency
medical technicians, and others who are typically the first to
respond in the event of trauma or disaster.
Pictured left to right are COD patrol officer Kent Munsterman,
and firefighter Stephen Cha and paramedic Shannon Files of
the Glen Ellyn Fire Department.
3
We’re Teaching the
Great Chefs
of Chicagoland
New state-of-the-art kitchens will serve more students in the Culinary program and provide a much richer classroom experience
with high-tech features like monitors at each cooking station to give students an optimum view as techniques are demonstrated.
Be our guest
Restaurateurs Tom Dentice and Ed Rensi seek employees from the College of DuPage
Culinary program and count on their skills to help train other staff.
To put good taste in everything
they do, Tom & Eddie tapped COD
When former McDonald’s executives Tom Dentice and Ed Rensi decided to create a better burger
restaurant, they tapped culinary facilities and talent at COD.
Now, Tom & Eddie’s, with raves from food critics and locations in Lombard and Geneva, is a prime
partner for real-world training and post-graduate employment for COD students.
The story’s featured on Tom & Eddie’s website and in local media accounts. After retiring from
McDonald’s and going separate ways, the two friends reconnected, set their sights on a different kind
of restaurant, prowled around for ideas and ingredients, and honed their recipes in COD kitchens
with COD culinary students.
Then, they hosted an eight-week test restaurant at COD, serving more than 1,100 meals to friends,
students, and members of community organizations in exchange for feedback.
The first Tom & Eddie’s followed in August 2010.
“It was a partnership of ideas,” said Rensi, “And we ended up understanding that we needed to hire
culinary students to help us with what we were doing.”
“Probably 20 to 25 percent of our staff were culinary students from [COD] when we opened,” said
Dentice. “After the opening, they got promoted, and our back-of-the-house people are now actually
graduates of the culinary program.”
In addition to recruitment at COD, the restaurateurs serve as guest lecturers at the school. They’re
also cooking up an internship program so students get real-life experience.
To those who think restaurant jobs aren’t worth the effort, Rensi suggests otherwise.
“Most government officials don’t think about it in terms of careers; they think about it in terms
of jobs,” he said. But “in the culinary world, there are great career opportunities, where you migrate
from the front-line kitchen staff all the way up through management. And there’s no reason if you’re
a young person who goes through a culinary school like College of DuPage that you can’t work in a
restaurant and ultimately end up owning a restaurant and developing business skills along the way.”
Sounds like a sure-fire recipe for culinary students to put good taste in everything they do.
4
New building, real opportunities for students
If experience is indeed the best teacher, just imagine
the possibilities when the Culinary & Hospitality
Center opens this fall.
With two restaurants and a boutique hotel
operating on premises, the center will provide an
extraordinary training ground for students preparing
for careers in hospitality management, culinary,
baking and pastry arts.
“Students will get to know the intricacies of
working in these fields,” said Karen Randall, dean,
Business and Technology. “The center will be a
living lab where students develop skills and gain a
professional edge as they enter the workforce.”
The center will include new and expanded kitchens,
bakeshops and training labs and will feature:
• Waterleaf, a fine dining restaurant
• The Inn at Water’s Edge, a six-room boutique hotel
• Wheat, a casual dining room
• Culinary market offering a wide selection of
student-created food items
• A large meeting space for receptions and special
events
The 60,000-square-foot facility will flank the
McAninch Arts Center on the northeast side of
campus. Arts Center patrons will have convenient
options for a quick bite or an elegant meal before or
after the performance.
{
Claudia Biespiel describes her time in the
Culinary program as one of the most amazing
experiences of her life.
Rob Benes, Owner, Foodie Public
Relations, Freelance Food Writer
No small potatoes
Walt Dobrovolny, Executive Chef/Partner,
Branmor’s Restaurant, Bolingbrook
COD alums making their mark
Richard Green, Chef/Owner, Comfort
Zone Barbeque Restaurant, Aurora
Success wears many hats in the culinary
and hospitality world. College of DuPage
alums are carving unique paths in this
dynamic industry booming all around us.
They attribute their achievements,
in part, to a solid foundation that started
with COD.
Jennifer Klingbiel, General Manager,
Egg Harbor Cafe, Downers Grove
Christie Lamb, Convention Services Manager,
The Doubletree Hotel Chicago, Oak Brook
Diane Makowski, Marketing Associate,
Sysco Corporation
Christine Petersen, Field Support and
Customer Relations Manager, Avendra
Danielle Salerno, Director of Catering and
Sales, Arrowhead Golf Club, Wheaton
Justin Syputa, Executive Housekeeper,
Wyndham Lisle
Christina Valentine, Front Office Supervisor,
The Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus
Gus Vonderheide, Vice President
Sales-Group, Hyatt
John Zydowicz, Manager, John Dough
Bakery, Lisle
Chicago chefs serve up unique
learning experience
Unique Pairings satisfied more than the guests who dined on delicacies
created by two top Chicago chefs. COD culinary students relished the chance
to assist Jose Luna and Michael Garbin at the Nov. 16 benefit.
“The opportunity to work with Chef Garbin was amazing. Not only was I
instructed by him, but I partnered with him. I felt like a professional chef in a
professional kitchen,” said Claudia Biespiel.
Students from the International Cuisine classes helped to prepare
and serve the gourmet meal. Those assigned to dining room duty became
sommeliers for the evening, taking direction from the Gallo wine expert on
hand for the festivities.
Unique Pairings is a dinner series hosted by the College of DuPage
Foundation. Proceeds benefit the new Culinary & Hospitality Center.
Learn more: www.uniquepairings.com.
College of DuPage :: impact :: cod.edu/impact
}
5
impact: success and
A personal message from College of DuPage President Robert L. Breuder
Dear Neighbors,
Last November, District 502 voters made a big investment in College of DuPage.
They entrusted us with much-needed funding to meet the educational and career
needs of today and tomorrow. We thank you!
We’re working hard to ensure that your belief in COD is justified. But we have
another responsibility: showing you the return on your investment.
With this first issue of impact, we’re sharing stories about your College of DuPage.
From economic development to homeland security, musicians to top chefs, people
starting careers to people starting over, COD makes an impact region-wide and
beyond. I invite you to read on and learn about some of the many ways we change
lives every day.
I welcome your feedback and the chance to share future stories of COD’s impact.
Sincerely,
Dr. Robert L. Breuder
President, College of DuPage
COD touches the world;
the world touches COD
Fulbright Scholar Marilena Ruiz, a clinical psychologist from Panama, came
to COD to learn about our Early Childhood Education and Care program.
Global
6
As the folks at Disney repeatedly remind us, it’s a small world.
And thanks to global technology, trade and transportation,
it’s getting smaller all the time.
Increasingly, an effective education involves firsthand
international experience—or at least an understanding of
diverse cultures.
At COD, we instill international experience coming and going.
First, we welcome international teachers, researchers and students who learn
about our country, but who also teach our students and faculty about theirs.
While here, of course, international visitors spend money in our community
and enrich us with fresh perspectives. When they return home, they’re
influential ambassadors on the benefits of living and doing business here.
Fulbright Scholar Marilena Ruiz, a clinical psychologist from Panama, came
to COD to learn about our Early Childhood Education and Care program.
“It’s really amazing,” said Ruiz. “We don’t have a center like this in Panama.
The COD faculty made my experience unforgettable by helping me complete
my research and by offering an opportunity to participate in classes.”
COD Professor Sarah Patton, who served as a faculty mentor for Ruiz, said,
“Marilena connected with many of the students in our program, and we are
looking forward to more cross-cultural discussions.”
Recently, a delegation of Belarusian educators visited COD, as well as
DePaul, Loyola and the University of Chicago. Their interest: How we teach
business in the U.S.
International students at COD have not only enhanced the school’s
reputation by winning prestigious scholarships, but also enriched their U.S.
classmates by providing an international perspective. In fall 2010, nearly 120
international students from 36 countries enrolled at COD.
The second path to international understanding is overseas study.
In recent months, COD students have studied in a dozen countries. Since
1970, COD has led trips to more than 75 nations.
“Living in another culture impacts students in so many positive ways,”
said Associate Professor Sandra Anderson, who’s led trips to Europe. “It’s a
great investment as well as a life-changing experience that opens up so many
possibilities in the world.”
“These opportunities contribute to a community that is more knowledgeable,
compassionate and globally minded,” said Maren McKellin, coordinator of
Field and Interdisciplinary Studies. “It’s really hard not to care about the
environment, a particular culture, an ecosystem or a country once you’ve had
the chance to experience it directly.”
Photo by Katya Chilingiri
achievement
Jazz musician Josh Berman has made it all the way to the national
spotlight since learning to play his first instrument at COD.
Amy Beth Kirsten credits her
family and the COD music faculty
for helping the composer find and
follow her dream.
Opening doors to the
music world
“was always there to gently suggest that the listening was great,
but there was a lot to be gained through thoughtful practice, and
that eventually turned me into doing a little less listening, and
It’s never too late to follow your passion
more playing.”
Josh Berman and Amy Beth Kirsten always had a passion for
Kirsten took advantage of many of the student music groups
music. Because of their experiences in the COD music program,
while at COD, and after taking some time away from her studies,
both decided they couldn’t let their love for music fade away.
completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Music Composition
Berman chose to study music later than most, first learning
from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University,
to play the trumpet and coronet at the age of 19 while at COD.
one of the most prestigious music schools in the country.
He has garnered national attention and was featured in last
“I just kind of woke up one morning and wanted more,” Kirsten
October’s Downbeat magazine. Berman earned these accolades
said. “When I was at COD, I wrote a piece for the choir and they
through his work with the Emerging Improvisers and Umbrella
performed it. I think that experience was really important to my
Music, non-profit organizations in Chicago that promote jazz
development as an artist.
and improvised music.
“I was lucky enough to have experiences early on in my
“I just loved jazz and improvised music,” the 38-year-old said. “I development, like at COD, which gave me the confidence to keep
was always an artist of some sort. I had no dreams of becoming a going,” she added. “When you find something that makes you
professional musician. I am glad it has led me to where I am now. so happy and stimulates your intellect—and you feel you have
Berman, who plays with various groups at venues around
something to contribute—it’s impossible to resist.”
Chicago, noted that COD Music Professor Tom Tallman,
Family finds ‘uncommon’
denominator at COD
Like father, like son. Well, not exactly. John and
James Payne came to College of DuPage for very
different reasons.
Three years ago, son James enrolled in Calculus
III at COD during summer break from the University
of Illinois, needing to retake a course he struggled
with during his freshman year. James returned the
next summer for a second math course with COD
Professor Robert Cappetta, who made quite an
impression on the LaGrange resident.
“I really enjoyed my experience at COD. I liked the
smaller class size, the hands-on approach and a good
teacher who definitely helped me to develop better
John Payne dedicates his
study habits,” said James, now pursuing his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University
next COD challenge—
of Chicago.
science—to his son, James,
James said his dad was his ride that first summer at COD—and what a ride
who hopes to return to COD
it became for the elder Payne. When the marketing and strategic planning
in a few years to explore
other subjects once he earns professional took early retirement five years ago, he wanted to challenge
himself and explore subjects outside his comfort zone.
his doctorate in chemistry.
John started with a Latin correspondence course through the University
of Illinois. Often, he studied at COD while his son was in math class. Paging
through the COD course catalog, the father of three found just what he was
looking for.
“I saw all these accounting courses I could take,” said John, who holds a
master’s degree in humanities. “People don’t think about intermediate and
advanced accounting courses being offered at a community college. I don’t
think people understand how good the teaching is here.”
While working on an advanced accounting certificate, he also took a number
of physical education and computer courses, and even a math course from
Professor Cappetta. All told, John completed nearly 100 hours, both academic
and non-academic, at COD.
As he prepares for the next step—the Certified Public Accountant exam—
this dad expects more homework ahead.
“I may be taking some science classes—so I can talk to my son!” he said.
College of DuPage :: impact :: cod.edu/impact

Visit Us on the Web
We hope you enjoy this issue of impact and
discover something new about your community
college. There’s more to these stories, so be
sure to check out our impact web page for other
highlights, photos and video interviews.
cod.edu/impact
impact Vol. 1, No. 1
Produced by the Office of Marketing and
Creative Services at College of DuPage
President Dr. Robert L. Breuder
Associate Vice President of
External Relations Joseph Moore
Marketing Director Laurie Jorgensen
Editor Jim Vosicky
Assistant Editors Jeff Elijah, Jane Lelugas
Writers Jeff Elijah, Bruce Hetrick,
Jane Lelugas, Jim Vosicky
Art Director Lou Demas
Designer Mark Brady
Photography Rich Malec
Direct all comments and questions to
the editor at impact@cod.edu
© 2011 College of DuPage. All rights reserved.
7
Public safety jobs can be difficult
and the training that goes into
them is vital. COD’s new Homeland
Security Education Center will bring
integrated, state-of-the-art training
closer to home than ever. (see page 3)
impact
425 Fawell Blvd.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-6599
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Permit No. 164
Glen Ellyn, IL
Your community college Vol. 1, No. 1
In this issue
80% of first responders train at community colleges.
The new Homeland Security Education Center will
give them the most advanced facility in the nation.
Tom & Eddie’s taps culinary facilities and talent.
Tom Dentice and Ed Rensi talk about the role COD
and its culinary students play in their success.
COD touches the world; the world touches COD.
Today, effective education involves firsthand
international experience.
It’s never too late to follow your passion. Late
starters achieve tremendous musical success.
Father and son find ‘uncommon’ denominator at COD.
A son’s summer math class leads to new challenges
for his dad.
impact
Your community college
Vol. 1, No. 1
The 39-Year-Old
Freshman
“Old School” teaches modern lesson
on versatility, lifelong learning