 The ICCB is the state coordinating board for community colleges.
"Dr. Anderson is an exceptional individual, has extensive experience
in the Illinois Community College System and has earned the deepest
respect from our colleges, the trustees and most importantly, the
students who have gotten to know her," said ICCB Chairman Alexi
Giannoulias. "There were some great applicants, but ultimately my
board unanimously selected Dr. Anderson because of our utmost
confidence in her leadership abilities and educational background.
She will be an outstanding executive director."
Anderson currently is the vice president of the ICCB. She is the
first ICCB staff person to be selected for the permanent position of
executive director. Effective July 1, the office's title has been
changed from president and CEO to executive director.
"I am honored that the board chose me as its new executive
director," said Anderson. "The work of our community colleges is
vital to the educational and economic health of Illinois, and it is
my privilege to help lead the community college system in its
mission."
The executive director reports directly to the board and serves
as the chief community college system representative working with
the governor's office, the Illinois General Assembly and its various
legislative committees, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and
other state agencies.
Illinois is home to 48 community colleges in 39 districts and has
the third-largest community college system enrollment in the nation.
Serious issues face Illinois community colleges. "Dr. Anderson
has significant experience with some of the most critical issues our
system will face during the next several years, such as remediation,
accountability, student completion and advancement, campus safety,
and program and standards alignment," said Giannoulias.
[to top of second column] |
 Anderson has worked closely with many sectors, organizations and
committees of the community college system. She has also connected
with such state and national groups as the Illinois Business
Roundtable, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Women Employed, Jobs
for the Future, and the Center for Law and Social Policy. As part of
the ICCB executive staff, she has developed critical relationships
with the General Assembly, the lieutenant governor's office and the
governor's office.
Anderson is a staff liaison to the Illinois Council of Community
College Presidents, serves as staff to the P-20 Council, serves on
the Joint Education Leadership Team, and assists with the
implementation of the Illinois Board of Higher Education's strategic
plan, the Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success. She
was instrumental in developing the ICCB Latino Advisory Committee.
"With Karen's leadership, I believe the ICCB and the system have
every reason to look forward to a bright future in the years ahead,"
Obrzut said. "I am confident that her abilities as a manager,
educator and most of all, leader will make her shine within this new
role."
Anderson joined the ICCB in 1999. Since then, she has served as
an administrator for nearly all the board's functions in academic
affairs, workforce development, adult education, education
technology, career and technical education, and institutional
research and policy studies.
Prior to her work at the ICCB, Anderson was the principal and
president of Ursuline Academy in Springfield; provost, registrar and
acting president of Springfield College in Illinois; assistant
professor of English at Milliken University; and a professor and
coordinator of the Bilingual Business Studies program at Midway
College.
Anderson speaks four languages. She received her master's degree
in English and a doctorate in rhetoric and composition from the
University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky.
[Text from
Illinois Community College Board
file received from the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
