About Dr. Mitchell
Dr. Judy Mitchell
Dr. Judy L. Mitchell is Joliet Junior College's ninth president, now President Emerita. She was unanimously approved as the college’s president by the JJC Board of Trustees in September 2016; prior to that, she had served in the role of interim president at the college since March 2016. Mitchell currently serves on various boards including Silver Cross Hospital Board, Will County Habitat Board, and Workforce Services of Will County, as well as previously for Will County Center for Economic Development and Grundy County Economic Development. She is a member of New Lenox Rotary, Zonta Club of Joliet, Joliet Chamber of Commerce and New
Lenox Chamber of Commerce.
An Advocate for Change
Under Mitchell’s leadership, JJC was the 2021 winner in the Advancing Diversity category from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). She presented nationally at the AACC Future Leaders Institute on Bridging the Equity Gap in 2021. Mitchell has been recognized for her contributions to education and the community, receiving the Gary W. Davis Ethical Leadership Award from the Illinois Community College Trustees Association in 2021, which honors individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the pursuit and support of ethical leadership and decision-making. In 2018, Mitchell was honored with the Zonta Club of Joliet’s Woman of Distinction Award for her contributions to improving the status of women in the community.
Always Aiming Higher
Mitchell has worked at the college for 25 years, having started as an administrative assistant in the CIOS department in 1996. In 2001, she served as the program management specialist in Adult and Family Services, followed by the assistant to the director of administrative services in 2002. In 2004 she became interim director of administrative services, and then the director of business and auxiliary services in 2005. In September 2012, she was appointed to the role of VP of administrative services. Mitchell received her doctorate in community college leadership from National-Louis University in June 2012. She holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in business and technology from Governors State University. She earned an associate degree in microcomputers for business and computer programming from JJC in 1998.
FEATURED
Publications and Awards
- Governors State University Distinguished Alumni Award, 2023
- College of Business Hall of Achievement Inductee at Governors State University, 2023
- Distinguished Citizen Award 2022, BSA, Rainbow Council
- Illinois Community College Trustees Association 2022 Merit Award
- Joliet Junior College Foundation 2022 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
- Community Colleges Daily, September 2021 issue, highlighting the college’s crisis management and budgeting as a model program.
- Published in HigherEdJobs. This piece focuses on Dr. Mitchell and her Executive Director of Marketing & Communications AACC presentation titled Assess and Address: Marketing Through an Equitable Lens along with reviewing the success of the colleges communications audit in 2021.
- Illinois Community College Trustees Association 2021 Gary Davis Ethical Leadership Award
Dr. Mitchell with National Award for Advancing Diversity won under her presidency.