2024 - ECC Appoints Peggy Heinrich, EdD, as 9th President

The Elgin Community College (ECC) Board of Trustees is proud to announce that it unanimously voted on Thursday, December 19, 2024, to appoint Peggy Heinrich, EdD, as the ninth president of Elgin Community College. This historic appointment, effective January 1, 2025, marks the first time a woman will serve as president in the college’s 75-year history. Heinrich succeeds Dr. David S. Sam, who ended his 17-year tenure at the institution on July 31, 2024.   
  
Heinrich has served at ECC in various roles over the last 18 years, most recently as interim President since July of 2024. Heinrich has demonstrated strong leadership and innovative thinking during her ECC tenure. Prior, Heinrich served as vice president of teaching, learning, and student development for eight years, dean of adult/continuing education and workforce development for two years, dean of adult education for six years, and associate dean of adult education for two years.   
  
Heinrich has also held leadership roles outside ECC, including associate director for adult education and family literacy with the Illinois Community College Board, director of programs for Literacy Chicago, adult literacy tutoring coordinator for the Albany Park Community Center, and a consultant for various community-based organizations in Chicago. She has taught English as a second language (ESL) to adult learners and began her career teaching English in the Chicago Public School system.   
  
Her leadership at ECC has been instrumental in fostering continuity and stability, ensuring the college remains focused on its mission to serve students and the community. Known for her approachable and genuine demeanor, Heinrich has earned the admiration of colleagues for her ability to engage effectively with all members of the college community. Her leadership style, grounded in collaboration and inclusivity, has helped strengthen ECC's focus on student success and institutional goals. Her colleagues noted her ability to lead with clarity, compassion, and a student-centered approach, especially during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.   
  
Heinrich holds a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University, where she received the 2017 Faculty Award for Distinguished Scholar-Practitioner. She also earned a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics with a focus on teaching English as a second language from Northeastern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education English from DePaul University. In 2022-2023, Heinrich was named an Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow by the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program. 

Her work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the 2023 YWCA Harriet Gifford and Hattie Griffin Education Leadership Award and ECC's Leader of the Year Award in both 2014 and 2018. Heinrich is an active community leader, serving on multiple boards, including the governing board of the Alignment Collaborative for Education, the Golden Corridor Family YMCA, the board of directors for Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, board member for Ascension Saint Joseph Community Leadership, and as a board member for ECC’s Illinois Small Business Development Center. 
  
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Peggy Heinrich as ECC’s next president,” said Donna Redmer, chair of the ECC Board of Trustees. “Her focus on student success is well-aligned with ECC's values and its commitment to improving lives through learning. Her leadership, experience, commitment, and deep understanding of the college and community will build on ECC’s tradition of innovation and excellence as we look toward the future.”