INDIANAPOLIS – Dr. Ann Valentine, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College’s Wabash Valley Region, has been selected to serve on a Commission of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

Dr. Valentine will serve as a member of the Commission on Communications and Marketing and began her term on July 1, 2011.  She will serve a 3-year term.

“I am very pleased to be selected to serve on an AACC Commission,” said Valentine. “As a widely recognized national voice for community college policy, the AACC does very important work for our colleges and students across the U.S.  This is also a great opportunity for Ivy Tech to be even more closely connected to AACC advocacy efforts.”

There are six commissions authorized by the AACC Board. Each of these commissions were established to accomplish the following:

• Provide advice to the AACC Board and staff;
• Encourage collaboration among community college entities and organizations;
• Provide a forum for focused conversation about the important community college issues and priorities of the day;
• Provide for increased involvement in the Association by AACC member CEOs and other professional staff; and
• Provide leadership opportunities for members of the AACC Board of Directors (who serve as Chairs).

Dr. Valentine has held faculty and administrative positions in higher education for more than 20 years and was selected in May 2011 to serve as Chancellor for Ivy Tech’s Wabash Valley Region. She earned her doctorate degree in Higher Education and Master’s degree in Public Administration from Iowa State University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and her associate degree from Kirkwood Community College also in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest single-accredited statewide community college system with more than 200,000 students enrolled 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.