Waubonsee is dedicated to serving as a true beacon of transformation for its community members. And so to remain in that position, in 2024, the time had come for the college to start undergoing its own transformation.

RISE 2030 isn’t just a plan that will sit on a shelf or check a box on the college’s to-do list. It’s a roadmap for keeping Waubonsee a relevant and leading local educational resource. The plan has been shaped by a wide variety of insights and experiences, reflecting the voices and needs of both the college and the broader community.

College and Community Input

Input into the plan came in many forms, including:

  • Nearly 300 employee responses on a survey assessing organizational readiness for change 
  • More than 400 community responses to a Strategic Planning Survey asking who WCC is now and who WCC should be five years into the future
  • 15 focus groups with employees
  • 20 focus groups with students
  • Industry sector meetings to get input from education, community organizations, healthcare, manufacturing, and government

Steering Committee

Under the leadership of Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Innovation, and Planning Dr. Stacey Randall and Associate Professor of Humanities Dr. Aaron Lawler, a 14-member committee guided the development and finalization of the strategic plan and supporting operational plans. The college also engaged with Huron Consulting Services, LLC, from January 2024 to April 2025, as the result of a competitive bid process.

Committee Members:

  • Dr. Marleigha Evans
    Senior DEI Coordinator
  • Jami Hinshaw
    Dean, Student Engagement
  • Amrit Komal
    IT Project Coordinator
  • Lorena Lopez
    Student Retention Manager
  • Dr. Jeanine McMillen
    Asst. Dean, Business, Technology & Workforce Ed.
  • Dr. Nour Al Naber
    Faculty, Business
  • Emily Nicholson
    Registration and Records Systems Analyst
  • Mike Treve
    Campus Safety Project Manager
  • Stacy Wendt
    Employee Development, Admin. Specialist
  • Dr. Pratima Jindal
    Faculty, Physics
  • Jessica Moreno
    Dean, Academic Support
  • Emily Rollins
    Community Engagement Manager 
  • Dr. Kimberly Chavis
    Provost and Vice President of Teaching, Learning, and Student Success