President's Office

Welcome from the President

The learning advantage you want and need is at ECC. We are the community resource you have counted on to improve lives through learning since 1949.

As the world becomes more interdependent and culturally diverse, a solid education holds the best promise for success. Whether you are preparing for a new career, upgrading and enhancing your skills, or gaining credits toward a four-year degree, ECC is primed to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.

With competent and caring faculty and nationally accredited educational programs, you can achieve your goals and experience the learning advantage your community college education provides you in a competitive job market.

I encourage you to visit our site often and visit our campus soon. Share the ECC experience with us, and let us assist you in preparing for your future.

Best regards,

David Sam, PhD, JD, LLM
President

Biography

Dr. David Sam began serving as the eighth President of Elgin Community College (ECC) on February 12, 2007. His prior appointment for six-and-a-half years was as President of North Harris College in Texas. Previously, he was Dean of the Community & Technical College and a Social Science and Business Management Professor at the University of Akron, Ohio. Earlier, he served as Vice President for Faculty and Instruction at Harrisburg Area Community College in Pennsylvania, as acting Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Natural and Social Sciences both at Mott Community College in Michigan and as Assistant Professor/Coordinator of International Studies at College of DuPage in Illinois.

Academic excellence, student success, completion, reduction of student loan debt, community outreach, partnerships, workforce development, equity, diversity and inclusion, and financial prudence are among the hallmarks of his presidency. Working with a visionary and engaged Board of Trustees, outstanding and dedicated faculty, and a competent and committed team of administrators and staff, he has provided leadership for the extraordinary results the College has achieved. The College has awarded nearly 60,000 degrees and certificates since its founding in 1949; 25,793, about 44 percent, have been granted since 2007.

The College has also closed the “academic achievement gap” between Hispanic and Caucasian students and has been recognized by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its student success activities. ECC is a national leader in its Alliance for College and Career Student Success initiative, receiving several recognitions, including the 2013 Bellwether Award. Further, ECC has been an Achieving the Dream Leader College since 2012 and is a 2014/15 and 2018/2019 Aspen Institute Top 150 College. Additionally, the College has gained national prominence for its student financial literacy program. It is cited in the report by The White House’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans (June 2015).

In 2009, the College passed a $178 million capital referendum, transforming the campus into a modern, state-of-the-art learning environment. Finally, winning awards for excellence in financial reporting and distinguished budget presentation, ECC’s financial stability, and sound financial management has earned the College Aaa rating from Moody’s Investor Services in 2009 and the AA+ rating from Standard & Poor’s since 2010.

Dr. Sam has impressive academic credentials. He is a cum laude graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, political science, and history. He holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) and a PhD in international economic and political relations degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Additionally, he holds an MBA in finance and marketing from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, a JD degree from the University of Akron Law School, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in energy law and policy (with distinction) from the Center for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee, United Kingdom, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Dr. Sam serves on the board of directors for the: Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, Alignment for Collaborative Education, and Golden Corridor Family YMCA. He is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Elgin. A licensed attorney, he is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the Energy Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. His recognitions include Phi Theta Kappa’s Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction for Outstanding College Presidents; Illinois Community College Presidents: Illinois Community College Trustees Association’s Gary W. Davis Ethical Leadership Award; Elgin Cosmopolitan Club’s Distinguished Services Award, and Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Fellow.

President's Cabinet

Vice President of Teaching, Learning & Student Development, Peggy Heinrich
Vice President of Business & Finance, Kimberly Wagner
Vice President of Planning, Institutional Effectiveness & Technology, Philip Garber
Chief Human Resources Officer, Anthony Ray
Chief Marketing, Communications, and Government Relations Officer, Toya Webb
Executive Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Anthony Ramos
Executive Director of Institutional Advancement & ECC Foundation, Susan Taylor-Demming
Chief of Police, David Kintz
General Counsel, Respicio Vazquez
Senior Executive Assistant to the President, Diane Kerruish