EICC announces Chancellor Finalists, invites public to forums

The Chancellor Search was extended in April after three of the four finalists withdrew to accept other positions. The extension opened up opportunities for additional highly qualified candidates to apply for the position, resulting in an outstanding group of candidates.  

The finalists include: Ellen Bluth, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Economic Development, EICCD, Davenport, IA; Thomas McDonnell, Ed.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs at Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, NE; Kimberly Paddock-O’Reilly, D.H.Ed., previously served as Provost at Logan University, Chesterfield, MO, current Co-Owner and Coach of KLP Coaching in St. Charles, MO; Sonya Williams, Ph.D., Vice President of Education and Chief Academic Officer at College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL.

Current EICCD Chancellor Dr. Don Doucette announced last October that he will be retiring in June. Dr. Doucette has served as the district’s chancellor since 2011.

The four finalists will be invited to participate in public forums the week of June 6 throughout the district, which includes Clinton, Muscatine and Scott Community Colleges. They will also be interviewed by the EICCD Board of Trustees, who will make the final selection. The appointment is expected to be announced in late June.

Public Forums

The college invites and encourages everyone to participate in the open forums. There will be a brief introduction of each candidate, followed by a question-and-answer session. Forums will be conducted in-person at the SCC Urban Campus, Muscatine Community College (MCC), Scott Community College (SCC) and Clinton Community College (CCC), with a Zoom option for the forums at the SCC Urban Campus.  All forums are open to anyone from any campus and the general public. Masks are optional. All who attend will be asked to complete a feedback form and the completed forms will be given to the Board of Trustees for their review.

Additional information regarding the finalists:

Ellen Bluth, Ph.D., is Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Economic Development at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) in Davenport, IA. She previously served as Executive Director of Resource Development and Innovation at EICC. Dr. Bluth earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration from The University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA; a Master of Business Administration from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA; and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Iowa State University in Ames, IA.

Thomas McDonnell, Ed.D., is Vice President for Academic Affairs at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, NE. He previously served as Dean of Humanities and Visual Arts at MCC. Dr. McDonnell earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Northcentral University in San Diego, CA; a Master of Arts in Speech Communication from Easter Illinois University in Charleston, IL; and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Iowa State University in Ames, IA.

Kimberly Paddock-O’Reilly, D.H.Ed.,is Co-Owner and Coach of KLP Coaching in St. Charles, MO. She previously served as Provost at Logan University in Chesterfield, MO. Dr. Paddock-O’Reilly earned a Doctor of Health Education from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences in Kirksville, MO; a Master of Social Work from Indiana University in Indianapolis, IN; a Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL; and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Purdue University in Indianapolis, IN.

 Sonya Williams, Ph.D., is Vice President of Education and Chief Academic Officer at College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL. She previously served as Dean of the Arts and Sciences Division at Joliet Junior College in Joliet, IL. Dr. Williams earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Anatomical Sciences and Cell Biology/Neurosciences from the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in Oklahoma City, OK; and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK.

For more information visit eicc.edu/chancellor