HR0820 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0820 LRB102 27142 LAW 38628 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Judy Mitchell, Ed.D. on the occasion of her retirement from Joliet Junior College; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Mitchell received her Associate of Arts in Computer Programming from Joliet Junior College in 1998; she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Business & Technology in 2002 and her master's degree in Business Administration in 2004, both from Governors State University; she earned her Doctorate of Education in Community College Leadership from National-Louis University in 2012; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Mitchell began her career at Joliet Junior College in 1996, working as an administrative assistant in the Computer Information & Office Systems (CIOS) department; she advanced to program management specialist of Adult and Family Services in 2001, followed by assistant to the director of Administrative Services in 2002 and interim director of Administrative Services in 2004; she was named the director of Business and Auxiliary Services in 2005; she was appointed as vice president of Administrative Services in 2012; she was selected as the ninth president of Joliet Junior College in 2016; and

WHEREAS, During the State of Illinois fiscal crisis, Dr. Mitchell oversaw Joliet Junior College as it reduced its operating costs by over $2 million and pursued creative revenue sources to offset operational costs; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Mitchell led Joliet Junior College's financial team, which was awarded the Government Finance Officers Association's Best Practices in Community College Budgeting for fiscal year 2016, the highest form of recognition in government accounting and financial reporting; and

WHEREAS, Under Dr. Mitchell's leadership, Joliet Junior College was named the 2021 winner of the Advancing Diversity Award by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC); she presented at the 2021 AACC Future Leaders Institute (FLI) on bridging the equity gap; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Mitchell contributes to her community by serving on the boards of Silver Cross Hospital, Will County Workforce Investment, Habitat for Humanity, and the Will County Center for Economic Development Council; she is also a member of the Rotary Club of Joliet and serves as director of the Three Rivers Education Partnership; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Mitchell has been recognized for her contributions to education and the community, receiving the Gary W. Davis Ethical Leadership Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the pursuit and support of ethical leadership and decision-making from the Illinois Community College Trustees Association; she was also honored with the Zonta Club of Joliet's Woman of Distinction Award for her contributions to improving the status of women in the community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Judy Mitchell, Ed.D. on her retirement from Joliet Junior College after 25 years of dedicated service, and we wish her success in her future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Mitchell as an expression of our esteem and respect.