Dr. Avis Proctor has served as the sixth president of William Rainey Harper College since July 2019, providing bold, student‑centered leadership at one of Illinois’ premier community colleges. She brings more than 30 years of experience as an innovative mathematics educator and higher education leader, with a strong commitment to teaching, service, and research.
A higher education scholar and Aspen Presidential Fellow, Dr. Proctor is an influential voice in local, statewide, and national strategies shaping the future of community colleges. Her leadership has been particularly impactful in advancing proposed community college baccalaureate legislation, helping inform and influence statewide dialogue and policy considerations focused on expanding access, affordability, and workforce‑aligned bachelor’s degree pathways. She also contributes to national conversations on forward‑thinking leadership in higher education, evidence‑based instructional practices, strategic community partnerships, economic development, and strengthening the STEM pipeline for underrepresented populations.
Dr. Proctor is deeply committed to strategic collaboration across K–12 education, higher education, business, and community partners. Her work has focused on expanding education and employment opportunities that strengthen students’ career preparedness and align academic programs with regional workforce needs. Under her leadership, the college has launched new and improved offerings in high‑demand academic programs which include artificial intelligence/cloud computing, aviation, cybersecurity, and fire science with plans for future programming in quantum information technology. Dr. Proctor has led initiatives across multiple disciplines that have garnered national recognition, advancing student success and institutional effectiveness for scaled impact.
Dr. Proctor earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, a Master of Science in Teaching Mathematics from Florida Atlantic University, and a doctorate in higher education from Florida International University.
Craig Duetsch
Executive Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services
847.925.6380
Dr. Tamara Johnson
Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
847.925.6103
Jeff Julian
Chief of Staff and Vice President of External Affairs
847.925.6183
Darlene Schlenbecker
Vice President of Planning, Research and Institutional Effectiveness
847.925.6008
Dr. Michelé Smith
Vice President of Workforce Solutions and Strategic Alliances
847.925.6391
Dr. Ruth Williams
Provost
847.925.6290
Heather Zoldak
Chief Advancement Officer
847.925.6319