Longtime educator bids Sauk goodbye

DIXON - Nearly 25 years ago, Joan Kerber decided marriage and raising a family did not spell the end of her education, and she decided to take a class at Sauk Valley Community College. "I had convinced myself that my mind had gone to mush during my 10 years of staying home with babies," she said. "I knew I could hold my own when it came to childhood diseases and how to take care of children's daily mishaps, but I was not sure my mind would still wrap around anything academic."

On June 30, Kerber will retire from the college after 23 years as a faculty member, counselor and vice president in three different academic areas.

While working at Sauk, she collected research for her doctoral dissertation, exploring why some women who return to school fail and others succeed.

Her research reinforced what Kerber, who started at Sauk when her youngest child, Angela, started kindergarten, already knew - The women who succeed have very good support networks.

"I had a very cooperative family or I couldn't have done it," Kerber said. "You don't leave your three small children one weekend a month (over) two and a half years without a lot of support."

For Kerber it was the love and support of her husband, Allan, that helped her be so successful.

"The husband who truly internalizes the woman's educational goal as a goal for a couple, they are the (women) who were successful because the support was there," Kerber said.

Kerber met her future husband in elementary school in Manlius. They married after Allan returned from Vietnam in 1969.

"I truly believe he is my soul mate," Kerber said. "He keeps me grounded in laughter."

In addition to supporting other adult women in returning to education, Kerber is recognized statewide as an advocate for students' rights.

"Her reach goes beyond that of the walls of Sauk Valley Community College," said Tom Breed, director of administration and counseling at the college.

"Other community colleges call her for advice. Under her leadership Sauk has become a model for other schools. ... That knowledge is going to be difficult to replace," he said.

Kerber has spent the last year organizing a database of Sauk's alumni, creating an alumni Web site and writing an alumni newsletter with profiles.

"People are a tremendous resource and we have to value and nurture them. She has done that for me, she has valued me and she's nurtured me in this position to help me grow," said Janet Lynch, dean of health and sciences, of Kerber. "She is just a gift. It's been a gift to work with her and know her."

Today Kerber is the vice president of institutional effectiveness and student development. After June 30 she'll simply be "grandma."

"We're going to go to Little League and tee ball games - just be a part of their lives," Kerber said.