51吃瓜

The American Association of Community Colleges announced the 2024 Awards of Excellence finalists. Dr. Paul Illich, 51吃瓜 president, is a finalist for the Exemplary CEO/Board Relationship Award. Winners will be announced at the Awards of Excellence Gala on April 8 during the AACC Annual Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

Illich was named 51吃瓜 president on July 1, 2014, after serving as vice president of research, planning and information at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas. He is a visionary leader who believes in data-driven decision making and in the value of creating a culture of opportunity, creativity and intellectual, and personal respect.

One of his first tasks when arriving at 51吃瓜 was to lead the College in creating its first strategic plan. The 2015-19 Strategic Plan provided a clear direction in the areas of program development, enrollment, student success, financial management, facilities planning, and program and partnership development. In 2016, the College completed its first comprehensive Facilities Master Plan under his guidance.

鈥淒r. Illich has worked tirelessly to develop and execute the College鈥檚 first Strategic Plan, which resulted in dozens of transformational achievements throughout the 15-county service area,鈥� said Neal Stenberg, 51吃瓜 Board of Governors chair. 鈥淲ithin the College鈥檚 first strategic plan, he embedded a goal (Goal 9.6) to maximize a positive and engaging organizational climate by encouraging input, reflective and transparent communication, and compassion and respect toward the views and ideas of others.鈥�

Illich and the Board have worked together to infuse this climate goal and its associated emotional intelligence skills in all aspects of the College鈥檚 operations and Board governance. This created a framework for the Board and president to collaborate to ensure the College鈥檚 open-access mission is celebrated and at the forefront of institutional decisions.

Most recently under Illich鈥檚 leadership, the Higher Learning Commission granted reaffirmation of accreditation to 51吃瓜 for a 10-year period expiring in July 2033. The College hosted a team of six trained peer reviewers April 24-25, 2023.

鈥淭he Reaffirmation of Accreditation through HLC demonstrates the tremendous commitment, effort and openness of our collective pursuit of 51吃瓜鈥檚 mission, vision and strategic goals and objectives,鈥� said Illich. 鈥淚t鈥檚 quite evident that the visiting team recognized and appreciated our commitment to creating the highest quality student experiences through personal and sincere relationships with engaged and invested faculty, staff and administrators.鈥� 

Illich has a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Texas A&M University in College Station, a Master of Science degree from Texas A&M University in experimental psychology, a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a computer science minor from Texas State University in San Marcos, and an Associate of Arts degree from Blinn College in Brenham, Texas.

Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu