HCC President Daria J. Willis Appointed to National Community College Research Commission
Howard Community College (HCC) President Daria J. Willis has been appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Research and Community College Trends and Issues.
“I am honored to serve on this commission and to represent our dynamic community of scholars and employees,” said President Willis. “Community colleges are the backbone of higher education, and I look forward to collaborating with fellow leaders to drive innovation, equity, and student success in our sector.”
The Association features nine commissions, authorized by the AACC Board, which are comprised of CEOs or administrators from member institutions. The Research, Trends & Issues Commission advises association leaders on policies and initiatives nationwide that could emerge as trends and challenges for two-year institutions throughout the United States.
It is Willis’ second appointment to an AACC commission, as she previously served on the Commission on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Two HCC senior leaders now serve in commission leadership roles, with Executive Vice President and Provost Shantay Grays currently serving on the Commission on College Readiness.
The latest appointment adds to Willis’ established record of local and domestic leadership in higher education. She currently serves on the boards of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC), the Howard County Economic Development Authority, the World Trade Center Institute, and the Phi Theta Kappa International College Honor Society.
Since her appointment in December 2021, HCC has achieved significant milestones as Howard County's premier higher educational resource for personal and professional development. The college has increased enrollment in each of the last four years, and reopened the campus' Children's Learning Center to support student parents following its closure in 2021 during the COVID pandemic.
HCC has also launched the state's first community college-based Boys & Girls Club to support youth development in surrounding communities, and established Project Elevate, a juvenile justice intervention program, also the first of its kind in the state.
Last week, HCC announced a $5.3 million fundraising year, the largest in the college's history.