Building Bright Futures with Bob Mihelich
2026 Faculty Member of the Year
Bob Mihelich has spent nearly two decades helping students build the skills they need to succeed in ever-evolving technical fields. His impact in and beyond the classroom recently earned him recognition as MCC’s 2026 Faculty Member of the Year and its nominee for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award.
Selected by peers, the award recognizes faculty who demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching, contribute to the college community, and actively pursue professional development.
For Mihelich, who has taught full-time at MCC for 17 years, the recognition reflects more than individual achievement.
“I am fortunate to teach at MCC, and the work we are doing truly matters for the community,” he said. “This recognition reflects the intentionality our department and division have put into our curriculum development and delivery. It represents all of our hard work in career and technical education.”
Mihelich teaches across multiple disciplines within applied technology, including architectural technology, construction management, engineering technology, and advanced manufacturing. His career prior to MCC included work as an architect in the Chicagoland area, where he designed a wide range of projects from high-end residential homes to commercial developments. He also served as a transportation planner for McHenry County.
That real-world experience shapes his approach in the classroom, where hands-on learning is central.
“All the curriculum we teach is hands-on and directly related to the work students will perform professionally,” he said. “Right now, I’m especially enjoying the analog design work we’re introducing in our new architectural technology program, where students are sketching by hand and constructing physical models using materials like chipboard and Foamcore.”
Beyond teaching, Mihelich has played a key leadership role at the College. He has served as chair or co-chair of the Applied Technology Department for 13 years and currently leads the Curriculum Review and Development Standing Committee, helping guide the evolution of MCC’s academic programs. He also recently worked on two Illinois Community College Board Programs of Study, including updates to the construction management program and the creation of the new architectural technology program.
“Bob is an excellent teacher, leader, and mentor, and is truly deserving of the 2026 ICCTA Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award,” said Dr. Daniela Broderick, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at MCC. “From leading department initiatives to helping shape new programs of study, Bob’s work reflects a deep commitment to student success and the future of career and technical education.”
His commitment extends statewide through his involvement with the Illinois Design Educators Association (IDEA), where he has served on the board and as Regional Competition Director for MCC’s regional competition for the past 17 years. In recognition of his service, he was recently honored with the “Friend of IDEA 2025” award.
In the classroom, Mihelich is driven by both his colleagues and his students.
“Working with a wide range of experts who are passionate about their teaching and service to the College is incredibly rewarding,” he said. “And our students bring such a thirst to learn knowledge and skills that will transform their lives and the community.”
Over the years, he has seen many changes in higher education, particularly the rise of online and hybrid learning. But one thing, he said, has remained constant.
“The primary focus of student success has always stayed the same, regardless of how courses are delivered.”
That focus is reflected in the advice he shares with students.
“I try to instill the idea of lifelong learning,” he said. “The skills students are performing now will change, and their ability to adapt to that change is what will keep them successful and employable.”
Mihelich’s own path to teaching began while working in architecture, when he started teaching as an adjunct instructor. He quickly discovered a passion for education and later joined MCC full-time.
He holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning and a Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Today, Mihelich continues to support a diverse range of students with equally diverse goals—whether they are pursuing a specific career path or building new skills to complement existing experience.
“The goal for our students is unique to their own situation,” he said. “We’re fortunate to work with students who are looking for different types of education, and we aim to support each of them in reaching their goals.”