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Dr. Vernon O. Crawley, president of Moraine Valley Community College, has been selected as the national 2009 Marie Y. Martin Chief Executive Officer of the Year by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). Dr. Crawley was among five regional finalists for the honor.
“I am so pleased to receive this honor because the selection really recognizes Moraine Valley and its outstanding faculty and staff,” said Dr. Crawley, who has served Moraine Valley since 1991 and the community college movement for nearly five decades. “This award would not even be possible if it weren’t for the dedication and tireless striving of our faculty and staff to ensure all of our students have the best opportunity possible to succeed. I am truly appreciative for what they do to help Moraine Valley continue to offer a quality educational program. I also was deeply touched because there are so many outstanding community college executive leaders who are deserving of this award.”
Since coming to Moraine Valley, he has overseen tremendous growth on campus—in enrollment and physical plant. The college enrollment is at an all-time high with more than 19,000 students in the 2009 fall semester, and summer school enrollment also was at a record high.
Dr. Crawley also led the successful $89 million bond referendum campaign that the community approved in March 2006 that resulted in the largest campus expansion since the college constructed its first four permanent buildings in the early 1970s. Two new buildings opened this fall and a third building opened last spring. The college will hold a dedication ceremony and open house on October 18 to celebrate the opening of the Dr. Vernon O. Crawley Science Hall and the Moraine Business and Conference Center. The Student Union began operation on March 16, and the second phase of renovation on the Student Services Center, formerly the College Center, was completed earlier this month. Renovation work has started on two of the original buildings—A and B. Also part of the referendum projects is the Southwest Education Center, which is under construction in Tinley Park. That two-story “green” building is expected to open in fall 2010.
Dr. Crawley has served on numerous local, regional and national boards and has been a mentor and advisor to countless community college leaders. He is called upon to represent all community colleges before congressional and legislative bodies. “Even during this severe economic downturn, Dr. Crawley has kept the college fiscally strong. What is most telling about his relationship with the board is that this is his 18th year as president of Moraine Valley, and we would like him to serve for another 18 years,” said Joseph Murphy, board chairman. “I am ecstatic about his selection. He is so deserving of this national honor.”
ACCT is a non-profit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern over 1,200 community, technical and junior colleges in the U.S. that enroll more than 11 million students annually.
For news media inquiries, call Mark Horstmeyer at (708) 974-5275 or email horstmeyer@morainevalley.edu.
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