By: Ashmar Mandou

Morton College’s Board of Trustees recently appointed Dr. Stanley Fields as the college’s new president during their meeting January 21st. Dr. Fields was selected from an array of highly-qualified candidates. Prior to being selected as President of Morton College, Dr. Fields served as superintendent of schools for Berwyn’s District 100. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Tulsa. Dr. Fields later earned his PhD in education administration at Tulsa. Dr. Fields took time aside to share his thoughts on his newest appointment and what students at Morton College should expect.

Lawndale Bilingual Newspaper: Congratulations on being named President of Morton College! Describe your sentiments upon hearing the news.

Dr. Stanley Fields: I am very humbled with the Board of Trustees confidence and trust to lead Morton College.

What are you looking forward to most in your new position as President?

Direct interaction with the entire Morton College Community. This is an exciting time for the school, with recent national recognition for providing a high-class educational experience that is both academically sound and safe for our students. More and more, we are seeing alumni moving on to promising careers or higher levels of education directly-tied to their time at Morton College. I look forward to stepping in and immediately begin working with the community that has made these achievements possible.

What is on your agenda to help elevate Morton College to the next level?

I believe the role of a leader is to expand the capacity of its organization as well as its constituents. I look forward to working with the Board of Education, the school’s administration, students, and faculty and staff to work on developing a better outreach program to our high school communities. Morton College has much to offer in providing a great next step for our communities’ high school graduates and we need to work on getting the word out even more than we do today.

Another facet I intend to develop is our work in adult education. There are many residents in our towns and cities who are looking to find a way to improve on their lives. Morton College can, and should, be part of the solution for them to learn an added skill, return to school after years away, or even just gain new insight into areas that interest them. Learning should never stop and I believe Morton College should be a conduit to make sure that it doesn’t for our communities.

What would you like students and prospective students to know about you and what you will do for Morton College?

I am passionately committed to assisting current and future students exceed their professional goals. Our alumni have shown what can be done with a Morton College education. For every student who is on campus today, and those who will join our community in the future, professional goals mean more than just a step up the ladder; it means a movement to even better possibilities for their lives, their families and their communities. I really enjoy watching a student take that first step onto campus – filled with dreams on a grand scale – and leave accomplishing more than they ever thought possible. Helping them along their path towards that success is a reward like none other.