HR0851 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0851 LRB103 41097 MST 74313 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey on her distinguished career as president of Illinois Central College (ICC); and

WHEREAS, Dr. Quirk-Bailey joined ICC as its fifth president in July 2016, bringing more than 26 years of community college experience to her role, having previously served in various roles for Harper College from 1990 to 2016; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Quirk-Bailey has led ICC with the premise that equity drives a vibrant community, focusing on how to reduce success gaps by better preparing students with valuable skills to create prosperity, not only for the individual but for the community as a whole; and

WHEREAS, During Dr. Quirk-Bailey's tenure, ICC has had several notable achievements, including securing a $15,000,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration to create the IT Workforce Accelerator, winning the national Charles Kennedy Equity Award from the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), leading the statewide Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI), opening the Workforce Sustainability Center to provide training for some of the most in-demand programs in the area, and receiving a $25,000 grant from the Lumina Fund for Racial Justice and Equity to train over 100 group facilitators to promote progress on race, diversity, and equity; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Quirk-Bailey is passionate about engaging the community through working with local high schools and businesses to better align ICC programs and services while achieving high levels of positive outcomes for students, their families, the workforce, and the region; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey on her distinguished career as president of Illinois Central College; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Quirk-Bailey as a symbol of our respect and esteem.