EAST PEORIA, Ill. – The new leader of Illinois Central College says she is absorbing as much as she can in her first few weeks on the job.
Dr. Jamonica Rolle became the college’s President on July 1st. She takes over after the previous president, Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey, retired on December 31st, 2025.
Rolle says she has had an eye on Illinois Central College for a while, noting that she was a fan of its workforce development programs and innovation.
Since taking over, Rolle has spent most of her tenure getting a feel for the campus, the ICC community, and the people of central Illinois. She says all of the communities have been welcoming and warm to her.
Rolle adds that those conversations will help guide her leadership.
“I have to believe that good leaders come in listening and learning first, and then implementing their ideas,” Rolle said.
Rolle wants to achieve that by conducting listening tours and focus groups to learn what the priorities and future vision for the campus should be. She wants as many people who have a stake in the college involved, whether that’s students, faculty, or community members.
Rolle says she has some new ideas she would like to implement for the college’s workforce development programs. But she wants to hear from business leaders across central Illinois to see if they would be feasible, and align with good jobs and sustaining wages.
Rolle is also impressed with ICC’s technology programs in developing the workforce for future jobs, saying AI and virtual reality will change how companies operate.
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