President

The City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) has opened the search for the president of Kennedy-King College, a public two-year, learning-centered college, one of seven colleges comprising the City Colleges. The president of Kennedy-King College reports to the chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago.

Kennedy-King College's rich history grew from the roots of Chicago's original Crane Junior College in 1911 and the ensuing Woodrow Wilson Junior College. The latter was renamed Kennedy-King College in 1969 to honor U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Dr. Martin L. King, Jr., one year after they were assassinated. 

Kennedy-King College adheres to the City Colleges' vision "to be recognized as the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity – empowering all Chicagoans to take part in building a stronger and more just city." City Colleges' leadership seeks a candidate to carry forth its vision, core values, and Kennedy-King College's own determination "to transform lives and communities through the power of education by providing accessible and educational, culturally diverse, exceptional, and globally competitive programs that empower all learners to achieve their intellectual, social, and economic goals."

High quality, accessible education and training opportunities are the cornerstone of the Kennedy-King learning community. Over 3,250 students are guided by dedicated faculty and staff in a thriving urban community, placing learning and achievement in the midst of a supportive, bustling business setting.

Students have the opportunity to pursue an associate degree in preparation for transfer or the workplace; career-focused certificate programs to enter immediate employment or upgrade professional and technical skills; Adult Education for free high school diploma exam preparation, and ESL (English as a Second Language) courses; and Continuing Education for lifelong learning opportunities. 

Noteworthy are the college's Washburne Culinary and Hospitality Institute and the Dawson Technical Institute. Dawson offers career opportunities in construction technology at major companies and through trade unions representing workers in the field. In recent years, Kennedy-King College was recognized as a top-10 finalist for the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, and in 2021, reporting by Forbes Magazine featured the college on Academic Influence’s list of the top 10 community colleges in the country. This year, Kennedy-King College was named one of ten participants for the Achieving the Dream’s “Accelerating Equitable Outcomes” initiative. The selected colleges are identified as those that “choose transformation over tradition, curiosity over inaction, and innovation over the status quo.”

Kennedy-King College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The college has three academic programs that are accredited by specialty accreditors: Addiction Studies, Automotive Technology, and Child Development.

The delivery of higher education opportunities in the city of Chicago and the historic neighborhood of Englewood where Kennedy-King College is located demands highly professional and deeply personal leadership. The preferred candidate must arrive with a collaborative spirit and an energetic, authentic commitment to being a part of the cultural fabric of the internal academic and external communities. This individual will carry the mindset of a servant leader with a hands-on delivery of informed, thoughtful, collegial guidance of the academic enterprise.

QUALITIES

The new president will be expected to address necessary change, to be transformational, and must be the proud voice and vision of Kennedy-King as reflected in its name, history, students, and alumni. Additional qualities include the following:

• Caring, teach-first, student-centered learning focus with knowledge of the traditional and non-traditional learner;
• Ability to ensure that policies governing student issues enhance the learning environment and support student well-being and success;
• Background in career and technical education, liberal arts transfer programs, adult and continuing education, and workforce development;
• Experience with planning initiatives and successful delivery to support the continued progress of the 2021-2025 strategic plan;
• Deep familiarity with particulars and directions of accreditation for the college and its related special program accreditations;
• Competence in budgeting, financial management, fundraising, and identifying new external funding sources;
• Knowledge of enrollment management strategies with bold, innovative outlooks to support growth, retention, and access for credit and non-credit programs;
• Respect for the balance between shared governance practices and fair, responsible leadership for all college constituencies;
• Practice the tenets of social justice, carrying out all parts of diversity, equity, and inclusiveness values;
• Engage business, industry, and corporate Chicago to benefit the college and its students' learning and experiential success; 
• Articulate and collaborative ambassador of the college with the District office, community, city, and statewide entities, including K-12 and other institutions of higher education;
• Understand, embrace, and advance the needs of Chicago's Englewood neighborhood with the power of the college's "Beacon of Light" presence; and
• Commitment to equity, social justice, diversity, and a culture of inclusiveness at all levels for the college community.

The preferred candidate will have an earned doctorate or terminal degree with senior level administrative and/or teaching experience at an urban community college.

Nominations and Applications

For best consideration, nominations and applications should be received by April 14, 2023. The new president may assume office on or about July 1, 2023. Additional information can be found at: www.ccc.edu/kkcsearch

The application must include:

• A letter of interest (not more than three pages);
• A current résumé (or curriculum vitae); and
• The names of five professional references with each person's position, office or home address, e-mail address, and telephone numbers.

Nominations and applications should be sent electronically (MS Word or PDF format) to: kennedykingpresident@agbsearch.com

All applications will remain confidential pending the selection of finalists. 

Please direct nominations and inquiries to:

James McCormick, Senior Executive Search Consultant, jim.mccormick@agbsearch.com, (651) 238-5188

Janice Fitzgerald, Senior Executive Search Consultant, janice.fitzgerald@agbsearch.com, (717) 580-0663

The City Colleges of Chicago does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, disability, military status, order of protection status, genetic information, political affiliation, membership or lawful participation in the activities of any organization, or the exercise of rights guaranteed by local, state, or federal law with respect to hire, terms and conditions of employment, continued employment, admissions, or participation in Board programs, services, or activities. The lack of English language skills shall not be a barrier to admission or participation in the City Colleges of Chicago's activities and programs.