Howard Community College President Joins National Research Council

Howard Community College President Daria J. Willis was recently appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Research and Community College Trends and Issues, according to a news release. The Association is made up of nine commissions with boards made up of CEOs and administrators from member institutions.

“I am honored to serve on this commission and to represent our dynamic community of scholars and employees,” said President Willis. “Community colleges are the backbone of higher education, and I look forward to collaborating with fellow leaders to drive innovation, equity, and student success in our sector.”

The Commission on Research and Community College Trends and Issues provides advice on nationwide policies and issues that could become trends or challenges facing two-year institutions, the news release reports. Willis’ previous local and domestic leadership experience includes serving on the Boards of Directors for the Maryland Association of Community Colleges, the World Trade Center Institute, the Phi Theta Kappa International College Honor Society, and the Howard County Economic Development Authority.

Willis was appointed President in December 2021. Since then, the college’s enrollment has increased over each of the last four years, and it has also reopened the campus Children’s Learning Center to support student parents, the new release reports.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Rhode Island Boarding School Completes Student Dorm Renovations

    St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I., recently announced the completion of a $26-million renovation project on Arden-Diman-Eccles Dormitory, according to a news release. The school partnered with Voith & Mactavish Architects (VMA) on the new space, which places a new focus on collaborative community spaces open to both boarding students and day students.

  • Utah Valley University Opens New Engineering Building

    Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, recently held a grand-opening ceremony for the new Scott M. Smith Engineering Building, according to a news release. The facility is one of the largest engineering buildings in the state at almost 200,000 square feet, and it plays home to the university’s Smith College of Engineering and Technology (SCET).

  • El Paso District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Canutillo Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, recently announced that construction has begun on a 119,000-square-foot elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Pfluger Architects, Carl Daniel Architects, and LDCM Solutions on the new Davenport Elementary School, which has an expected completion date of 2027.

  • University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Launches New Emergency Communications System

    The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) recently deployed a new emergency notification and incident management system for its campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with 911Cellular to launch Safe@UTC, a smartphone app allowing university officials to communicate and respond during emergency situations.