At the November regular Board meeting, the McHenry County College (MCC) Board of Trustees approved a sixth contract extension for MCC President Clinton Gabbard, Ph.D., extending it an additional year through December 31, 2026.
Board Chair Tom Allen commented on the Board’s strong support for Dr. Gabbard’s leadership, sharing, “We are pleased to once again extend Dr. Gabbard’s contract. He continues to exceed the Board’s expectations by leading the college with a collaborative spirit, innovative ideas, and above all, compassion for our students. We have complete confidence in his ability to continue moving McHenry County College forward and maintain this great institution of learning for our community.”
“I am grateful to continue serving MCC and greatly appreciate the support of the Board of Trustees, as well as our truly talented and passionate employees who are dedicated to the success of our students,” said Gabbard.
Gabbard’s unwavering commitment has continued to move the College forward in a variety of strategic areas, including: student enrollment growth; strategic workforce development efforts; extensive renovations across campus that directly serve student access needs; an institution-wide initiative on diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion; expansion of student support resources to address food insecurity, transportation challenges, technology barriers, and mental health; growth of community engagement programs including dual credit and dual degree programs, Manufacturing Pathways Consortium, and the Center for Agrarian Learning; and most recently, the planning of the College’s Foglia Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation.
“Every day, I am honored to work alongside hundreds of staff, faculty, and administrators, each one dedicated to bringing exciting educational opportunities to our community. It is a privilege to serve with them,” Gabbard added.
Gabbard became the College’s eighth president on January 11, 2016. Before joining MCC, Gabbard served in administration and leadership roles at Lake Michigan College, Walla Walla Community College, Purdue University, and University of Notre Dame. Gabbard earned his bachelor’s degree from Evangel College and both his master’s and doctorate degrees in counseling psychology from the University of Notre Dame. He and his wife, Ronda, live in Bull Valley, IL.
