Illinois Central College President Sheila Quirk-Bailey will retire at the end of the calendar year, the college announced on Tuesday.
Quirk-Bailey has been ICC’s president since 2016, overseeing enrollment growth in each of the last five semesters and increasing graduation and retention rates.
“It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve ICC and this community," Quirk-Bailey said in a media release. “The work we have accomplished together has laid a strong foundation for the future, and I’m confident ICC will continue to change lives and strengthen our region for years to come.”
Quirk-Bailey advocated for boosting employment training programs through the creation of the Workforce Empowerment Initiative and the IT Workforce Accelerator.
“Dr. Quirk-Bailey’s positive impact on Illinois Central College, and on the thousands of students and families whose lives have been changed through education-cannot be overstated,” ICC Board of Trustees Chair Cindy Byrd said in the release. “She has led with vision, diligence, and an unwavering focus on student success.”
Quirk-Bailey’s retirement takes effect Dec. 31. The college’s board will conduct a national search for her replacement.
