President

The Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago has opened the search for the President of Richard J. Daley College. Located in the growing Southwest neighborhood of Chicago, the college was established in 1960 as Bogan Junior College, then Southwest College, before giving honor to Chicago’s six-term mayor, Richard J. Daley.

The college is the City Colleges’ center of excellence for advanced manufacturing and engineering technology. Daley College offers a comprehensive array of associate degrees and certificates and is also home to highly respected adult education and continuing education programs. The college’s satellite campus the Arturo Velasquez Institute offers many of the college’s programs and has a community-centered plan to launch several new programs. In keeping with its mission, Daley College provides a high-quality education leading to academic success, career development, and personal enrichment that fulfills diverse community needs. A dedicated faculty and staff work diligently to support approximately 11,500 students annually. Daley College, a designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. It has also earned the Seal of Excelencia from Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts accelerating Latino student success in higher education. As student athletes, the Bulldogs compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Attributes

The college seeks a president to join in its vision as a first-choice community college that endeavors to see its students’ educational, professional, and cultural expectations met and exceeded. The president will be a transformational team leader and team player, exhibiting an energized spirit and the desire to unify, as well as empower others. The successful candidate must be a vocal advocate and champion of the college, arriving with a record of success in several areas, including the following:

  • Passion for student success and knowledge of enrollment management strategies for increased access, recruitment, retention, and student services and activities;
  • Proven ability to make meaningful financial decisions, and success in budget allocation and creative resource generation with experience working with grants;
  • Knowledge and experience in advanced manufacturing, engineering, and STEM fields;
  • Demonstrated experience in and appreciation for social justice and a diverse, inclusive, multicultural academic community;
  • Knowledge of the broader higher education landscape including accreditation bodies, articulation agreements, and designated minority serving institution such as HSI;
  • Ability and openness to work and produce constructive outcomes in a collaborative setting;
  • Experience with the unionized workplace and collective bargaining matters;
  • Approachable, transparent communicator and thoughtful listener, anxious to engage in open, fair dialogue;
  • Internal plus external leadership with the ability to strengthen and expand innovative collaborations with area colleges/universities, Chicago Public Schools, businesses, and community organizations;
  • Senior administrative or teaching experience at a community college, college, or university; and
  • Advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education.

Mark Potter, Provost

Jeremy Basso, Associate Professor

Charles Thompson, Instructor

Christina Robinson, Instructor

Julienne Thomas-Hall, Professor

Nathan Wood, Instructor

Eric Hayes, Dean – Enrollment Management

Cynthia Moreno, Associate Dean of Instruction

David Girzadas, Dean of Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing

Alicia Rodriguez, Dean of AVI

Jose Acevedo, Director of Programs, IMAN

Marcy Rodriguez, Executive Director, Enlace

Colin Cosgrove, President, Laystrom Manufacturing

Paulina Szkodon, SGA President

Ashley Hernandez, SGA Vice-President

Nominations and Applications

The next Richard J. Daley College president must be visible, engaging, and exhibit strong interpersonal skills. Knowledge of urban education issues and the greater Chicago region would be an asset. To assure best consideration, nominations and applications should be received by March 16, 2026. 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. All applications will remain confidential pending the selection of finalists. The start date will be negotiated upon offer acceptance May 2026.

Interested candidates should apply through the CCC portal at https://phxc1b.rfer.us/CCCCONNECT9W55WZ.

It is against the law for City Colleges as a recipient of Federal financial assistance to discriminate on the following bases against any individual in the United States, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation or belief; and against any beneficiary of programs financially assisted under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), on the basis of the beneficiary’s citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or his or her participation in any WIA Title I-financially assisted program or activity.

About Daley College

Richard J. Daley College is a two-year comprehensive community college that strives to meet the needs of its community through multiple entry points and provides accessible educational opportunities. Daley College is City Colleges of Chicago’s Center of Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Technology. The Manufacturing Technology and Engineering Center, a state-of-the-art facility with newly enhanced defined pathways, seeks to integrate students directly into the workforce. MTEC programming is closely coordinated with industry partners who have provided input in curriculum design and play an integral role in assuring that Daley College offers quality programs aligned to industry needs and standards.