The Gateway to Democracy: The Role of Urban Community Colleges
Southwest Tennessee Community College presents the Urban Community College Summit Oct. 26, 2021, to gather leading minds from our nation’s urban community colleges to explore the challenges, triumphs and vital role community colleges located in urban centers play in our nation’s social, economic and political landscapes today and into the foreseen future.
SPEAKERS
Dr. Curtis Ivery
Chancellor, Wayne County Community College
The UCCS keynote speaker is 2020 Diverse Champion and Chancellor of the Wayne County Community College District in Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Curtis Ivery. Dr. Ivery is renowned as one of the nation’s longest serving community college leaders and advocate for serving low-income, underserved populations. The Urban Community College Summit will feature topics explored in Dr. Ivery’s book, America’s Urban Crisis and the Advent of Color-blind Politics: Education, Incarceration, Segregation and the Future of U.S. Multiracial Democracy.
Dr. Tracy D. Hall
President, Southwest Tennessee Community College
Dr. Tracy D. Hall took the reins of Southwest Tennessee Community College as president in 2015 and since then, has engineered a renaissance at the college that has transformed the student experience and garnered the college national acclaim. Under her leadership, Southwest joined Achieving the Dream in 2016 and earned Leader College status in 2020 for its achievements in boosting enrollment and improving student outcomes. In 2021 the Bellwether Consortium recognized Southwest with its prestigious award for Planning, Governance and Finance.
Dr. Merrill Irving
President, Hennepin Technical College
Dr. Merrill Irving, Jr. became the fourth president of Hennepin Technical College (HTC) in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system on July 1, 2015. Dr. Irving began his presidency by leading the college through a successful reaffirmation of accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) with no findings. This accomplishment reinforces HTC’s commitment to educational quality, continuous improvement and ensuring ethical responsibility of public and private resources. Following reaffirmation of accreditation, Dr. Irving, together with the college community, began a 3-year process of developing a new 5-year strategic plan (Access to Success), effective July 1, 2020.
Dr. Rolando Garcia
President, North Hennepin Community College
Dr. Rolando Garcia joined North Hennepin Community College as president in 2020 and since then has laid the foundation for a track record of visionary and transformational leadership. Prior to joining North Hennepin Community College, he served as Judson A. Samuels South Campus and Vice Provost of Academic Resources at Broward College where he developed, nurtured and sustained positive alliances with business and industry, college and university partners, community nonprofit organizations and k-12 school districts.
Dr. Elizabeth Gassel Perkins
Campus President & Chief Academic Officer, St. Louis Community College - Florissant
Valley
Dr. Elizabeth Gassel Perkins joined St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley August of 2016 where she has led district-wide taskforces on departmental reorganizations and wait-listing options for students and serves on a variety of standing committees and taskforces for the College and the campus. She serves as the administrator for the College’s dual credit, dual enrollment, and early college partnerships. She also serves as the administrator responsible for overseeing the College’s developmental education redesign efforts. Dr. Perkins is also heavily involved in her community. She serves as the Past Chair and an Executive Board Member for North County, Inc., is a board member of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce, and is a former board member of the St. Louis County Workforce Investment Board. She was recognized by the Christian Hospital Foundation as a Drum Major Award recipient in 2021 and by North County Churches Uniting for Racial Justice and Harmony with an Outstanding Education Award in 2019. Under her leadership, the campus also received the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Excellence Award from North County, Inc., in 2021.
AGENDA
(8:00 a.m. – 12 Noon)
8:00 - Zoom Room Opens
8:15 - Welcome
8:30-8:45 - Keynote Address
8:45-9:45 - Community College Leadership Panel
10:00-11:00 - Breakout Sessions
11:00-11:45 - Student Voices Panel
11:45-12:00 - Closing Remarks