GARY – Ivy Tech Community College has selected Margaret Semmer, Ed.D. as Vice Chancellor of Academics for its Northwest Region with campuses in Gary, Valparaiso, East Chicago and Michigan City. She will begin her duties on July 5.

Semmer has served as the dean of Career and Technical Education at Joliet Junior College in Joliet, IL since 2007. While at Joliet Junior College, she provided instructional and administrative leadership for programs in agricultural/horticulture sciences, business, computer information and office systems, criminal justice, culinary arts/hospitality management and technology, including automotive, construction, HVAC, manufacturing and the Partnership for College and Career Success (PCCS). In addition, she managed a departmental budget of more than $12 million, partnered with other colleges on 2+2 transfer agreements, lead grant writing projects related to career and technical education, as well as developed recruitment and retention programs geared toward targeted populations.

She has been instrumental in developing and creating workshops designed to emphasize recruitment and retention of women in non-traditional careers. Her involvement also includes working with the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program with The Collaborative for Gender Equity from 2006 to 2010 and the Center for Occupational Research and Development (CORD).

“We are happy Dr. Semmer will be joining the Ivy Tech Northwest educational community. Her academic experience and services background is consistent with the strategic mission and functions our College promotes,” said Chancellor J. Guadalupe Valtierra. “We look forward to the role she will take on in promoting quality initiatives and programs in our region.”

Prior to her employment at Joliet Junior College, she spent 13 years at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, IL where she most recently served as Assistant Dean of Science, Business and Computer Technologies. As Assistant Dean, she provided administrative leadership on grant projects that included the National Science Foundation Advanced Technical Education Center for Systems Security and Information Assurances (CCSIA). She has also been a champion of the development and enhancement of recruitment/retention efforts geared at non-traditional students, especially women in IT.

While at Moraine Valley, she was also the Assistant Director/Tech Prep Coordinator where she administered all fiscal and administrative responsibilities for the three regional Career and Technical Education grant programs. She also served as Coordinator for Work-Based Learning, Recruiter, Contractual Grant Writer and Placement Specialist during her time at Moraine Valley.

She began her career as a Placement Coordinator at Robert Morris College in Chicago. She has also served many faculty positions teaching communications and public speaking at Joliet Junior College, Moraine Valley Community College, Wilbur Wright College part of the City Colleges of Chicago, and University of Illinois at Chicago.

Semmer was also granted the Innovator of the Year Award from the League of Innovation in Community Colleges in 2006.

Semmer received her Doctorate of Education from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL and her Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She also obtained her Bachelor of Science in Communication from Northern Illinois University.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually.  Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.