Dr. Karen Hunter Anderson, Executive Director for the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), joined the ICCB in 1999. Advancing from the position of Vice President of the ICCB,Dr.Anderson is the first ICCB staff person to be selected for the permanent position of Executive Director. During her tenure at ICCB, Dr. Anderson has provided leadership and has served as an administrator for nearly all the Board’s functions in the divisions related to workforce, career and technical education, student services, minority affairs, accountability and assessment, adult education, institutional research, education technology, international education, and academic affairs.

​

Dr. Anderson’s experience includes 20 years at ICCB, 11 years with campus administration, and 12 years of teaching experience, for a total of over 40 years of educational experience. Prior to her work at the ICCB, Dr. Anderson was the Principal and President of Ursuline Academy in Springfield; provost, registrar, and acting President of Springfield College in Illinois; assistant professor of English at Millikin University; and a professor and coordinator of the Bilingual Business Studies Program at Midway College. Dr. Anderson is currently serving as the Chair of the National Council of State Directors of Community Colleges.

​

Dr. Anderson received her M.A. in English and Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Anderson is also the author of an ESL college-level textbook. In November, 2010, Dr. Anderson received an award from the Illinois Council of Community College Administrators, recognizing her outstanding service to the community college system and is the recipient of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association 2016 Meritorious Service Award. As Executive Director of ICCB, she has participated in three White House Summits. She speaks four languages and has two sons.