Dr. Jerome Corcoran Appointed IVCC President

On Tuesday evening, Dr. Jerome Corcoran, well respected by the residents of the district and current Vice-President for Business Services and Finance/Treasurer, was appointed by the Board of Trustees as Illinois Valley Community College’s tenth President.

“After an extensive search we were extremely fortunate to find such a top notch candidate right here in our community willing to serve in this leadership role. I have worked closely with Jerry since I was appointed interim president back in June and have admired his skills and integrity since the first day I stepped on to the campus. It is truly my pleasure to pass the baton of IVCC leadership to such a highly qualified person,” said Interim President Dave Louis.

Dr. Corcoran who has served IVCC for the past five years as vice-president, currently manages a $30 million budget, improved the financial planning process of the college by tying the budget to the college’s strategic goals and objectives, coordinated the development of a new master plan which supports student learning and led administrative teams that successfully negotiated collective bargaining agreements. Under the leadership of Dr. Corcoran, IVCC has obtained the international certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting with the Government Finance Officers Association as he improved the financial position of IVCC every year while lowering the tax rate.

Dr. Bob Marshall, vice-president for student services, when asked about his experience as a member of the presidential search committee said, "As a member of the presidential search committee, I was extremely gratified that Dr. Corcoran was recommended to our board of trustees as one of the finalists. The original pool of five finalists included very experienced, talented and capable leaders. I was thrilled to learn that Jerry had been chosen to be our next president. Our Board has made an excellent choice. Dr. Corcoran is an inspiring, highly capable leader who will catapult our college forward into the next decade. I cannot imagine a person who would better serve as a leader and an advocate for our students, our college, and our greater community."

With eighteen years in higher education, Dr. Corcoran began his career with IVCC as the director of the dislocated workers center and the director of purchasing. He served as the first director of human resources where he established the office, authored the employee guide book, standardized all personnel procedures, established and facilitated supervisor support workshops and coordinated the revision of both the board policy and administrative procedures manuals. Dr. Corcoran is an adjunct professor with IVCC and a past guest lecturer with Northern Illinois University.

“I am proud of the confidence the board has placed in me by appointing me as the tenth president of the second oldest community college in the state of Illinois, Illinois Valley Community College. In the 18 years I have worked at IVCC, my success has been directly related to the many fine people I have worked with on a daily basis, and I'll definitely continue needing that kind of support every day into the future. The number one reason we are here is to help our students learn, and if we begin every discussion with that objective in mind, we’ll be just fine.” stated Dr. Corcoran.

Dr. Corcoran, the author of numerous articles and publications, is the president of the Illinois Community College Chief Financial Officers and vice-chairman for the Illinois Community College Insurance Cooperative. He serves on the Illinois Council of Community College Administrators, the Northern Illinois University Adult and Higher Education Advisory Council, the National Association of College and University Business Officers, the Association of School Business Officials International and the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.

In 2005, Dr. Corcoran earned his Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in the Curriculum Leadership Program with an emphasis in Higher Education from Northern Illinois University; a Masters of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision in Community College Administration from Chicago State University in 1997; and a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Science from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1974.
Dr. Corcoran is the son of Isabel M. and the late Thomas F. Corcoran of Ottawa. Jerry and his wife Katherine reside in Ottawa.

March 18, 2008