Sept. 15, 2009 – Jocelyn Harney of Naperville was recently named Vice President for Diversity and Organizational Development at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.
Previously, Harney was Vice President for Enrollment and Student Affairs at the College, a position she held for two and one-half years. She joined the College in 1991 as a grant specialist, and has also worked as a faculty member, associate dean of Counseling, Transfer and Advising, and dean of Student Services.
“In order to remain competitive amid a vastly changing marketplace, we need to identify skill sets and put into place training that is responsive to the needs of our current workforce,” said Harney, who noted that demographics over the past two decades have changed considerably, both in terms of student population and the College’s workforce. “When I started here in 1991, our student demographics included 13 percent diverse populations. This number has increased to approximately 33 percent today.”
Harney said her new position at College of DuPage utilizes her extensive experience in both education and counseling.
“As I think of my career and what brought me to C.O.D., I find that it is all about valuing people. No matter the setting or role, for me it’s always been about how I can assist individuals as they strive to reach their potential,” Harney said. “I have had the opportunity to work with many different individuals, in a variety of settings, all of whom have identified various goals they wished to achieve. If I could assist them, their achievements have been personally satisfying for me as well.”
Harney received a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Education from Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, and a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. In addition, just prior to earning a Ph.D. in Education with a concentration in Special Education, Transition Leadership, from the University of Illinois, Harney received Dissertation of the Year from the National Council of Student Development.
“Through this new position, I will have an opportunity to work with others to create programs and processes that will facilitate the professional development of all employees at the College,” Harney said “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to focus on the areas I love – people and programs.”