Harper College will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.
The Harper College Board of Trustees recently named Bill Kelley trustee emeritus in
celebration of his 23 years of service and leadership at Harper. Pictured (from left)
are Pat Stack, trustee; Dr. Avis Proctor, Harper president; Eric Knox, trustee; Walt
Mundt, vice chair; Kelley, trustee emeritus; Dr. Bijal Chaturvedi, trustee; Ben Vergara
Parra, student trustee; Dr. Nancy Robb, trustee; and James Meyer, trustee.
For more than two decades, Bill Kelley helped shape Harper College through his leadership, advocacy for community colleges and commitment to expanding opportunities for students. In recognition of his 23 years of service, the Harper College Board of Trustees on Wednesday named Kelley trustee emeritus.
Kelley, a Harper alumnus, was elected to the board in 2003 and served until his resignation in August 2026, when he stepped down in advance of his appointment as a 13th Subcircuit judge of the Cook County Circuit Court. He served as board secretary, vice chair and – most recently – chair from 2023 to 2026.
“It’s been an incredible journey, honor and privilege to serve Harper College, our community and students these past 23 years,” said Kelley, in remarks he gave at the board meeting, following the reading of a resolution recognizing his years of service. “I know that each of us want nothing more than to devote our time, energy, skills, experience and relationships to helping transform our students’ lives, improve our college and strengthen the community we live in. Harper has, and always will hold, a special place in my heart.”
Throughout his tenure, Kelley maintained a focus on Harper students. He helped guide the formation of the Harper Promise Scholarship Program, served as an alumni mentor and volunteered at the annual Career Conversations with Harper Alumni Professional Leadership Dinner.
Kelley also helped lead Harper through significant milestones. He supported the successful 2018 capital referendum, which provided funding for the University Center and forthcoming Business and Social Sciences Building. During his tenure, Harper reaffirmed its accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission, received the 2016 Leah Meyer Austin Award from Achieving the Dream and was named a semifinalist for the 2023, 2025 and 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
His support for students extended to philanthropy. Kelley was a founding donor of the Kelley Family Endowed Career Foundations Scholarship Fund, which supports students with mild cognitive disabilities in Harper’s Career Skills Institute, and is a member of the Harper Heritage Society.
Through his involvement with the Rotary Club of Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates, Kelley also helped generate support for Harper students and programs. The club has committed more than $800,000 to the Fishing Well Scholarship and ACE Grant program scholarship, with total contributions to Harper exceeding $1 million.
Walt Mundt (left), vice chair of the Harper College Board of Trustees, honored Trustee
Emeritus Bill Kelley with a resolution from the board that honored Kelley's dedicated
service to Harper and its community.
Kelley received Harper’s 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award and 2015 James J. McGrath Award. In 2026, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) presented him with its Central Region Trustee Leadership Award. He and Dr. Avis Proctor, Harper’s president, also accepted the American Association of Community Colleges’ 2026 Exemplary CEO/Board Relationship Award.
“I am grateful to Bill for his tremendous dedication and service to Harper College over 23 years,” Dr. Proctor said. “He consistently championed policies, priorities and investments that removed barriers to student achievement, helping position Harper as a national leader in student success.”
Kelley’s leadership extended beyond Harper. He participated in ACCT National Legislative Summits and Annual Leadership Congresses and served as ACCT Central Region chair and director. His leadership roles with the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) included Northeast region co-chair, president and chair of its Community College Baccalaureate Committee. At Wednesday’s meeting, the board also announced that ACCT had granted Kelley lifetime membership in recognition for his service and leadership for community colleges.
Following Kelley’s resignation, the board appointed Dr. Tricia Elliott to fill the vacancy through the April 2027 board meeting.
As trustee emeritus, Kelley joins former trustees recognized for distinguished service to Harper, honoring more than two decades of leadership on behalf of the college, its students and the community.