June 1, 2023

Board of Trustees appoints next Moraine Valley president

The Moraine Valley Community College Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Pamela J. Haney as the college’s next president during a special meeting on May 31.

Haney will become Moraine Valley’s sixth president on July 1 following the retirement of Dr. Sylvia M. Jenkins, who has served as president for 11 years. Haney has served as the college’s vice president for Academic Affairs for the last 11 years. She also succeeded Jenkins in that role.

“It is an honor and privilege to be named as Moraine Valley’s next president,” Haney said. “I’m following in the footsteps of a highly respected and committed leader from whom I’ve learned so much. As I begin my presidency, I promise to build on the college’s excellent foundation while advancing student success, innovation, community engagement and mission-driven priorities.”

Beth McElroy Kirkwood, chair of the Board of Trustees, said the college community’s support for Haney made her stand out among the finalists for the position. The college conducted a nationwide search with support from the Pauly Group, an academic search consultant.

“College faculty and staff’s endorsement of Dr. Haney was meaningful as they know her dedication to student success and commitment to affordable and accessible higher education firsthand,” she said. “Dr. Haney is the right choice to lead change at the college while also maintaining a healthy culture of high visibility and transparency.”

Haney has previously served as Moraine Valley’s dean of Science, Business, and Computer Technology; dean of Liberal Arts; and dean of Academic Services. Prior to her tenure at the college, she was a program administrator and assistant professor of Communication Arts at Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio. Haney also taught as an assistant professor of Speech Communication at Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia. Additionally, she worked at the University of Nevada-Reno, where she served as the university’s ombudsman for faculty and staff.

Haney’s career includes service and leadership in numerous roles. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Women Employed, a nonprofit advocacy organization based in Chicago. She is also a participant on the Illinois Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community College Board Equity Plan Advisory Committee.

Haney holds a doctorate in Interpersonal Communication from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and a master’s degree in Speech Communication and a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication—both from Norfolk State University in Virginia.

Haney’s complete biography and resume can be found at morainevalley.edu/presidential-search.