Morton College, the second oldest community college in Illinois, has selected accomplished academic professional Dr. Sheldon Walcher, PhD, MS, MFA as the next Vice President of Academic Affairs. Reporting to Morton College’s President Dr. Keith McLaughlin, Walcher will provide oversight to a team of professionals who work collaboratively to enhance the student experience and provide inspirational leadership, ensure quality and effectiveness, and provide strategic guidance for all Academic Affairs-related work at Morton College. His appointment takes effect on August 1, 2024.

Most recently, Walcher served as the Dean of Communication Arts, Humanities, and Fine Arts at the College of Lake County, where he provided strategic direction and oversaw a diverse team of 350 full and part-time faculty and staff across 15 departments. He also managed the Wright Community Gallery and the college’s extensive permanent art collection. Previously, Walcher held leadership positions at Kankakee Community College and the College of DuPage. Before he transitioned to community college leadership, he was also a tenure-track faculty member and director of composition at Roosevelt University, with additional tenure-track positions at the University of Tennessee and the University of Southern Mississippi.

“I am thrilled to join the leadership team at Morton College in support of our vital mission,” said Walcher. “Throughout my career, I have aimed to inspire creativity and excellence through calculated risk-taking and innovation. My diverse background has shaped my appreciation for various perspectives, and I look forward to bringing this optimism and energy to our community as we work together to enhance educational opportunities for all.”

“With over 25 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Walcher is a dynamic leader committed to building inclusive and innovative teams. His proven track record in implementing large-scale student success initiatives and addressing racial, social, and economic disparities aligns perfectly with our mission. Dr. Walcher’s expertise will be invaluable as he provides strategic guidance for all Academic Affairs-related work at Morton College. We are delighted to officially welcome Dr. Sheldon Walcher as the new Vice President of Academic Affairs at Morton College,” said McLaughlin.

Morton College retained KEES, a national executive search firm, as its executive search partner earlier in 2024. A comprehensive, national search was launched, and Walcher was selected from a talented pool of diverse top finalists. Leading the search efforts were Morton College President Dr. Keith McLaughlin and Morton College Search Committee members: Laurie Cashman (Dean of Adult, Career and Technical Education), Janet Crockett (Instructor), Murneka Davis (Executive Director of Human Resources), Anayeli Fuentes (Senior Human Resources Generalist), Brian Gilligan (Department Chair / Instructor), Joanna Martin (Executive Assistant to the President/Board Professional), Eric Porod (Testing & Assessment Specialist), and Brandie Windham (Dean of Arts & Sciences/Director of Guided Pathways).

Walcher holds an MS in Higher Education Administration and Policy from Northwestern University, a PhD in English from The University of Utah, an MFA in English from The Pennsylvania State University, and a BA in Literature and Philosophy from The University of California at Santa Cruz.

“Dr. Walcher is a powerful addition to Morton College’s already strong leadership team,” said Randi Blasutti, KEES Project Manager. “His optimistic worldview, combined with a rich career history in higher education and specific experience at multiple community colleges, will be a tremendous asset and serve the entire Morton College community well. Congratulations to all!”

KEES supported this hire through our Executive Search service and was delighted to be selected as Morton College’s partner of choice.

About the Partners

KEES

KEES (formerly Alford Executive Search) is a nonprofit executive search firm that builds diverse teams with dynamic leaders in the nonprofit and public sectors. A woman owned and operated firm, KEES offers a full array of nonprofit consulting services including executive search, leadership development, interim staffing, and HR support. For more information, please visit www.kees2success.com.

MORTON COLLEGE

Morton College, founded in 1924, is the second oldest community college in Illinois. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life of its diverse community through exemplary teaching and learning opportunities, community service, and life-long learning. Located in Cicero, IL, Morton College is proud to celebrate a century of meeting students’ educational needs in Chicago’s western suburbs. To learn more about Morton College, please visit www.morton.edu.

KEES MEDIA CONTACT:

Jamie Sheffler, jsheffler@kees2success.com

MORTON COLLEGE MEDIA CONTACT:

Katelyn Anderson, kanderson@cgagroup.com