Tim Touhy, of Chicago, was sworn in as the newest member of the Moraine Valley Community College Foundation’s board during a special meeting in September. The addition expands the Foundation board to 17 members.
An Oak Lawn native and St. Laurence High School graduate, Touhy attended Moraine Valley in 1986 to complete general education courses. Three years later, Touhy transferred to Loyola University, where he graduated in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in communication. After graduating, Touhy held numerous communication positions with local government agencies, private corporations and public relations firms.
Over his career, Touhy has earned multiple national and regional awards for his work in public affairs, media relations, employee communications and government relations with PRWeek Magazine, Publicity Club of Chicago (PCC) and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Touhy currently serves as the director of communications at Friends of the Chicago River, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the Chicago-Calumet River system. He also serves as chairman of the Illinois State Police Merit Board.
As Touhy reflects on his professional career and appointment to the Foundation board, he is grateful for his Moraine Valley experience, especially the guidance from his counselor who helped him transfer to Loyola University.
“I felt like I was working and talking with my guidance counselor every day. Because of that, I had a game plan for my education journey, which was invaluable at 18 years old,” Touhy said. “She helped me understand what that path looks like. Her guidance really made the transfer possible, which ultimately launched my career.”
Touhy immediately was intrigued when he first heard about the Foundation and the opening for a new board member. Touhy wanted to give back to the institution that helped him start his career. “The Foundation is a strong example of how Moraine Valley serves the Southwest suburban community and is a real asset to the entire region—right down to the individual students,” Touhy shared. “I feel lucky to be amongst board members with such diverse experience and expertise.”
Kristy McGreal, executive director of the Foundation, said, “Tim Touhy is an incredible addition to the Foundation board. He truly believes in the mission of Moraine Valley and is passionate about creating pathways to education for college students in need. His experience as a communications leader especially qualifies him to connect our community with the Foundation’s resources.”
“Community colleges, across the board, are one of the gems of our educational systems in Illinois,” Touhy said. “Moraine Valley is at the forefront of what the gold standard of what community colleges in the state can look like—it’s a leader in so many areas. I take so much pride in what Moraine Valley is and what it has to offer.”
For news media inquiries, contact Joshua Lahey, Moraine Valley communications specialist, at (708) 974-5652 or laheyj5@morainevalley.edu.
