Forums for Wildwood's President and Chief Academic Officer
Wildwood is searching for its next campus president and chief academic officer. You’re invited to take part in this process by attending forums to meet the finalists.
Forums will be held in the multipurpose room at STLCC-Wildwood and available via Zoom. Please read on to learn more about the candidates and make plans to participate in the forums. Feedback forms will be available online after the forums.
Forums to Meet the Finalists
Thursday, May 12
2-3 p.m. | STLCC-Wildwood Multipurpose Room
Join via Zoom (passcode: 078644)
Submit your feedback on John R. Crooks, Ph.D.
John R. Crooks, Ph.D., is the senior vice president of academic affairs at Eastern Gateway Community College with responsibilities for over 40,000 students. In this role, the academic deans, college credit plus (dual enrollment), tech prep and transfer department report to him.
Prior to his arrival at Eastern Gateway Community College, he worked at Lorain County Community College. Here, he served as the associate provost of University Partnership, a program where students could complete bachelor’s and master’s degrees on campus. During his tenure, Crooks also worked as dean of science and mathematics and director of distance learning. Prior to this position, he was the chair of the division of science, mathematics and computer science and an associate professor of biology at Iowa Wesleyan College (now Iowa Wesleyan University).
Crooks is a life member of the Missouri Academy of Science, the Ohio Academy of Science and Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society. He has had students and faculty present at several venues including state Academy of Science meetings and the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting. He has worked extensively with K–12 schools as a member of the Ohio K-12 Academic Content Standards Science Writing Team and the Lorain County Curriculum Team, in addition to assisting with grant projects and summer camps for Young Women/Men in STEAM. Crooks has also worked with the Community College Baccalaureate Association and has served as a reviewer for numerous entities such as the Journal of College Student Retention, Science NetLinks and various science books and films. Moreover, he has been active in the community in organizations such as Rotary, youth sports and the local science fair, where he helped officiate as a judge.
He holds both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in biology from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University), and a doctorate in biology from Bowling Green State University.
Tuesday, May 17
9-10 a.m. | STLCC-Wildwood Multipurpose Room
Join via Zoom (passcode: 999250)
Submit your feedback on Tristan Londré, Ph.D.
Tristan Londré, Ph.D., has served as vice president of academic affairs at North Central Missouri College since 2017. Earlier professional roles include director of career education at Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City and nine years as a full-time instructor, also at MCC.
Londré has over 25 years of teaching experience. During his career, he has been active as a Higher Learning Commission peer reviewer and as an accreditation consultant. He is a true believer in the community college mission. In fact, all of his children have attended community college - four already completed and his fifth is just getting started.
Londré holds a doctorate in mathematics, a master’s degree in mathematics and bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and philosophy from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.
Friday, May 20
10:30-11:30 a.m. | STLCC-Wildwood Multipurpose Room
Join via Zoom (passcode: 913027)
Submit your feedback on Stephen W. White, Ed.D.
Stephen W. White, Ed.D., began his career as a professional in the field of environmental protection in Puerto Rico and Atlanta, Georgia. In 2001, he transitioned to higher education, teaching science at Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield, Missouri. In 2013, he accepted his current position, dean of science, technology, engineering and math, at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley. In this role, he provides leadership while working to promote and enhance STEM education.
White holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Missouri State University, a master's degree in biology from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, and a doctorate in higher education administration - instructional leadership from Lindenwood University. His dissertation, Deciding on Science: An Analysis of Higher Education Science Student Major Choice Criteria, explores the motivation of students entering the educational field in the sciences.
He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Webster Groves, Missouri. Together they enjoy gardening, trying new recipes and spoiling their dog, Skye.
Friday, May 20
2-3 p.m.
Join via Zoom (passcode: 950526)
Submit your feedback on Ellen Crowe, Ph.D.
Ellen Crowe, Ph.D., has served as vice president of instruction and student services for the Maple Wood campus of Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City’s Northland since September of 2018. In this role, she is the chief academic officer for a campus of over 4,000 students and 46 full-time faculty. She is responsible for a campus budget of over $15 million. She leads the campus’ strategic planning activities, dual enrollment and enrollment/retention initiatives. These efforts have resulted in Maple Woods being selected as Best of the Northlands in higher education for the past two years.
Crowe has held progressively higher-level positions in higher education for more than 20 years. Before joining MCC, she was the vice president of academics at Carl Sandburg College in Illinois. Before this, she was dean of career and technical education at Morton College, where she advanced career and economic development initiatives. Additionally, she has served as dean of education at Quincy University, department chair at MacMurray College and dean at Westwood College. She possesses extensive experience in higher education in the areas of teaching, academic development, enrollment and retention, strategic planning, personnel management, professional development, mentoring, entrepreneurship, crisis preparedness, and community relations.
Crowe has taught courses in special education, behavior management, teacher education and leadership and curriculum development at MacMurray College and Quincy University at both the graduate and undergraduate level. At MacMurray College, she was awarded the Dewey Wilkins teaching award, the highest honor a faculty member can achieve. She serves as a regional director for the American Association for Women in Community Colleges. Prior to her career in higher education, Crowe worked for the Special School District of St. Louis County as an educator and administrator. Her passion for diversity, equity and inclusion was a driving point that led her from the K-12 level to higher education.
Crowe holds both a bachelor's degree and master’s degree in special education and a doctorate in philosophy in curriculum and instruction from Saint Louis University.