A wise woman—now a community college president—once confided in me: “Marc, while having a five-year or ten-year plan is helpful, it certainly is not a requirement for success or professional fulfillment. Regardless of plan or intentions, life happens. It is organic and unavoidable and should be embraced.
“As you continue your professional journey, you weave a tapestry of experiences and skill sets unique to you. As you grow and mature, keep your eyes open and your ear to the ground, and when the right opportunity presents itself at the right time, you will know because it will be a natural fit for the leader that life and your experiences have shape you to be thus far. In that moment, the next chapter of your journey will be clear, and you will embark on a new adventure.”
A few short months after she shared those words with me, I found myself moving my growing young family from the Chicago suburbs to DC to lead CASE’s community college engagement initiatives as its second director of the Center for Community College Advancement.
Now, after more than six years at CASE, it is bittersweet to announce that it is time for me to embark on my next adventure as the director of advancement for the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). While I am excited by the challenges and opportunities ahead, I am equally saddened that my departure from CASE will also directly impact the many relationships I have developed with so many of you over the last six years. I cannot thank you enough for the ways you have supported CASE and the broader community college advancement community while granting me the distinct honor of benefiting from your wisdom, experience and camaraderie.
Know that even though I will no longer be an active CASE staff member, I will always be a friend and staunch ally of CASE and stand ready to support you as you advance education to transform lives and society. Please keep in touch with me via LinkedIn or at my new email address (mwestenburg@aacu.org).
My last day with CASE was Friday, October 14. While CASE looks for my replacement, you will continue to be well supported by my colleagues in the CASE Volunteer Engagement and Leadership Division. Please contact my colleague Ann Snyder, Senior Director of Communities Engagement, at asnyder@case.org or 202.478.5550, with any questions you may have or if you know of anyone who may be interested in this new opportunity at CASE.
Wherever you are in your journey and whatever adventures you embark upon, I wish you all the best and look forward to that moment when our paths cross again.
With deepest gratitude,
Marc Westenburg
Community Colleges serve a population of students and educators whose work is invaluable to the transformation of lives and society. CASE is dedicated to supporting this community and to finding our next outstanding Director of the Center for Community College Advancement. The search will be launched soon, but we encourage anyone who’s interested to reach out to Ann Snyder, Senior Director Communities Engagement, asnyder@case.org. Please note this position will be a hybrid role based out of Washington, D.C.