Lupardus, Longtime STLCC Leader Set to Retire 

S. Carol Lupardus, Ph.D., campus president and chief academic officer of St. Louis Community College at Wildwood, will retire June 30, 2022.

Lupardus joined the College 21 years ago as an assistant professor for the teacher education program. Initially she taught at Florissant Valley before ascending the ranks and transferring around the College. During her tenure, she served as program coordinator for teacher education at Wildwood, acting vice president for academic affairs at Wildwood, vice president for academic affairs at Florissant Valley and provost/president at Meramec. In 2019, she returned to Wildwood to work in her current role as campus president and chief academic officer.

“I landed my dream job when I was hired by the College because I had the opportunity to impact K-12 education beyond my elementary classroom. I was now educating the educators who were going to go out and teach kids,” she said. “While my roles have changed over the years, I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve the students at STLCC as both a faculty member and an administrator.”

A lifelong educator, Lupardus began her career as a fifth grade teacher in the Meramec Valley R-3 School District after graduating from the University of Missouri. She taught for nine years before deciding, with the support of her husband, Jim, to pause her career so she could be a full-time mom to their three children.

In the years that followed, Lupardus found ways to stay involved in education as a parent volunteer. When her kids were older, she ran and was elected to serve five terms on the Board of Education for the School District of Washington. During those 15 years, she held the position of director, vice president and president. She also served as president of the Missouri School Board’s Association. Collectively, these experiences strengthened her leadership capacity and sparked her interest in returning to the teaching profession. 

“Education has always been close to my heart, so when my children were older, I had the time to focus on my career,” she said. “I chose to earn my master’s degree and doctorate at Saint Louis University because I wanted to teach at the college level. As I look back on my career at STLCC, I’m proud of the work I’ve done to empower students, expand minds and change lives.”

Lupardus has many fond memories from her time at STLCC, but commencement is at the top of her list. 

“Commencement is always my favorite day,” she said. “I love seeing the smiles on our students’ faces as they walk across the stage - the cheers, the energy, the support. It's a wonderful feeling to congratulate our graduates and recognize their hard work and commitment to education.”

In reflecting back on her career, Lupardus is most proud of her efforts to serve with intentionality. 

“As a leader, I strived to be supportive and present, especially in the face of adversity,” she said. “While I'll miss my colleagues when I retire, this is a fabulous time for a new leader to take the reins at Wildwood. I believe the campus and College have a promising future and I look forward to seeing how STLCC transforms to meet the needs of the community.”

The Wildwood  campus will honor Lupardus and celebrate her retirement at a gathering planned for Wednesday, June 29 from 2-4 p.m. in the multipurpose room. Contact Joan Williams, administrative assistant, with questions.