Chicago, IL – The City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) Board of Trustees voted December 5th to approve the appointment of Dr. Daniel López, Jr. as president of Harold Washington College (HWC). Dr. López will assume the position on January 21.
A search that included faculty, staff and students resulted in the hiring of Dr. López, who currently serves as Vice President of Student Affairs at Northeastern Illinois University, a Hispanic Serving Institution with 9,000 students in Chicago. In that role, he oversees a $20 million budget, 100 full-time staff, and the following areas: Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs; Student Leadership Development; Student Health Services; Student Counseling Services; Career Development; Student Housing; Student Disability Services; Campus Recreation; Academic and Community Partnerships; University Police; Undocumented Student Resources; and the Student Union, Event and Conference Services.
Like so many City Colleges students, Dr. López was a first-generation college student. The appointment will be a homecoming, as he earned his associate degree from HWC. Dr. López later went on to complete a bachelor of arts in communication from University of Illinois at Springfield, a master of education from Loyola University in Chicago, and a doctorate in higher education administration from Illinois State University. He conducted his graduate practicum at another City College — Truman College’s Counseling Center, and early in his career, he served as a member of the Harold Washington College admissions team.
“I am confident Dr. López’s more than 25 years of higher education experience coupled with his strong understanding of our student population prepares him well to make important strides in HWC’s student success, enrollment and equity work,” said City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado. “As a graduate of the College himself, he knows firsthand the role this institution and our students can play in creating a more inclusive Chicago economy.”
“As a former undocumented, first generation and ESL student, it is a privilege and honor to return to HWC as President,” said Dr. López. “I will always be indebted to HWC for giving me a first-class education, helping me to discover and strengthen my leadership skills, preparing me for the university and introducing me to higher education as a career. I look forward to joining this student-centered institution which continues to educate and serve students like me.”
Dr. López is also an affiliate faculty member in the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education and teaches in the Higher Education Administration graduate ENLACE program at Northeastern. He serves on several boards, including the Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE) and Diversifying Faculty in Illinois (DFI). He is involved with national higher education organizations such as Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA).
Located in the heart of Chicago’s Loop, Harold Washington College serves more than 12,000 students in credit and continuing education programs, more than 70 percent of which are Latino or African-American students. Harold Washington College is City Colleges’ Center of Excellence for business, entrepreneurship, and professional services. The College has partnership programs with organizations, including Aon, Year Up Chicago, DePaul University, and the Joffrey Ballet. The college houses the Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses Program, a free program for emerging local businesses. It is also currently the only community college in the city to offer a business degree accessible completely online, was the first of any City Colleges to implement a curriculum-centered study abroad trip, and has nearly 20 culture and affinity-based student organizations, including the active Student Government Association.
For more information on Harold Washington College and other City Colleges, call 773/C-O-L-L-E-G-E or visit ccc.edu. City Colleges of Chicago prepares more than 75,000 students annually for further college and careers. City Colleges encompasses seven colleges and five satellite sites city-wide. The seven colleges are: Richard J. Daley College, Kennedy-King College, Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, Harry S Truman College, Wilbur Wright College and Harold Washington College.
Registration is ongoing for the Spring 2020 semester. For more information and to apply, call (773) COLLEGE or visit www.cccu.edu/apply.
