President's Office

Meet Dr. Peggy Heinrich, ECC's President

Welcome from the President

Welcome to Elgin Community College (ECC), where your educational journey begins with a history of excellence for more than 75 years. At ECC, we're here to give you the learning advantage you need to succeed in today's interconnected world.

A good education is more important than ever, whether getting ready for a new job, improving your skills, or earning credits to finish a degree. Everyone belongs here and is committed to helping each other reach their dreams, from your teachers and staff to your fellow students. Here, people from all backgrounds come together to learn new things, make friends, and achieve their potential.

Our teachers are dedicated to helping you succeed, and our programs are nationally recognized for their quality. ECC will prepare you well for today's competitive job market and beyond, giving you the tools and knowledge to excel in your chosen field.

Check our website often to learn about all the available resources and opportunities. And visit our campus to see ECC's lively community and supportive atmosphere. Join us at ECC, and let us help you build a bright future. We can't wait for you to achieve your goals and join our active community.

Best regards,

Peggy Heinrich, EdD
President

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Biography

Dr. Heinrich has been a valued member of Elgin Community College (ECC) since 2007. She began her career as Associate Dean of Adult Education, advancing to Dean and then Vice President of Teaching, Learning, and Student Development in 2025, overseeing ECC’s academic and student services divisions.

Experience

Before joining ECC, Dr. Heinrich spent five years as Associate Director for Adult Education and Family Literacy with the Illinois Community College Board. She has also worked as a Community Literacy Grant Monitor for the Secretary of State’s Literacy Office and as an independent consultant specializing in Adult Education and Fundraising for Chicagoland-based community organizations. Additionally, Dr. Heinrich served as Director of Programs at Literacy Chicago and Adult Literacy Tutoring Coordinator for the Albany Park Community Center. She began her career as a high school English teacher within the Chicago Public School system and has taught English as a Second Language to adult learners at various community organizations.

Educational Background and Certifications

Dr. Heinrich holds a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University, where she graduated with the Highest Distinction and received the 2017 Faculty Award for Distinguished Scholar-Practitioner. She also holds a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics with a concentration in Teaching English as a Second Language from Northeastern Illinois University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English and Secondary Education with a minor in Communications from DePaul University. In addition, Dr. Heinrich is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with the Yoga Alliance.

Awards and Recognition

In 2025, Dr. Heinrich was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, recognizing her significant contributions to advancing the Foundation's mission of creating lasting, positive change in communities worldwide. A 2022-2023 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow with the Aspen Institute, Dr. Heinrich has received numerous prestigious accolades, including the 2023 YWCA Harriet Gifford and Hattie Griffin Education Leadership Award, as well as ECC’s Leader of the Year Award in both 2014 and 2018.

Community Involvement and Leadership

Dr. Heinrich is deeply involved in the educational community, having served as Vice President of the Illinois Community College Chief Academic Officers Executive Council in 2023-2024 and as Secretary the year prior. She currently serves on the governing board of the Alignment Collaborative for Education, the board of directors for the Golden Corridor Family YMCA, the Elgin Area Chamber, Ascension Saint Joseph Community Leadership, and the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Elgin Community College (ECC). Dr. Heinrich has also contributed to various working groups, including the Higher Education Futures Table: High School College Partnerships Working Group in 2024, the Illinois Board of Higher Education Strategic Planning Equity Working Group in 2021, and multiple committees for the Illinois Community College Board. She was among four members selected to represent community colleges on the state-mandated Dual Credit Task Force, which developed the state’s Model Partnership Agreement.

Innovative Programming for Adult Learners

As Dean at ECC, Dr. Heinrich developed innovative programming for adult learners, including Integrated Education and Training and bridge programming. These efforts helped ECC earn recognition as a 2017 Bellwether Award Finalist in Planning, Governance, and Finance. She also played a key role in creating the “Education and Work Center” in Hanover Park, a partnership between ECC, Harper College, the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, and the Village of Hanover Park, which continues to serve as a model for collaborative educational initiatives.

Advancing Equity and College Initiatives

As Vice President, Dr. Heinrich led significant initiatives to close equity gaps, contributing to ECC’s designation as a Leader College of Distinction by Achieving the Dream. She fostered a solution-oriented culture based on compromise and consensus-building. Under her leadership, the college expanded dual credit offerings, launched a comprehensive Quality Improvement Project focused on enhancing equity through the assessment of student learning, and successfully negotiated ten collective bargaining agreements with ECC’s labor unions during and after the pandemic, ensuring quality, rigor, and continuity for ECC students.

President's Cabinet

Vice President of Teaching, Learning & Student Development, Annamarie Schopen
Vice President of Business & Finance, Kimberly Wagner
Vice President of Planning, Institutional Effectiveness & Technology, Philip Garber
Chief Human Resources Officer, Vacant
Interim Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Maureen Jouhet
Chief Community & Government Affairs Officer, Karla Jimenez
Executive Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Vacant
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