Illinois Central College

Illinois Central College Announces Three Presidential Finalists

Community Invited to Meet Candidates During Open Forums March 5, 9, and 10

by Amanda Lewis

East Peoria, IL (03/02/2026) — Illinois Central College has named three distinguished higher education leaders as finalists in the search for the College's next president, marking a pivotal step in selecting the institution's future leader.

Following a comprehensive national search, the ICC Presidential Search Committee selected finalists with proven records of advancing student success, strengthening workforce alignment, driving innovation, and building strategic partnerships that support regional economic growth.

"This is a defining moment for Illinois Central College and Central Illinois," said Cindy Byrd, Chair of the ICC Board of Trustees. "The next president will advance ICC's mission and help shape how we prepare students for careers, support local employers, and drive regional economic vitality. We are proud to present three exceptional leaders and invite our community to take part in this important process."

Each candidate will visit campus for interviews and participate in a public forum, providing faculty, staff, students, and community members an opportunity to engage with the finalists and offer feedback.

The finalists are:

Dr. Jamonica Rolle

Campus Visit: Thursday, March 5

Dr. Jamonica Rolle serves as College Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and College Operations at Broward College, where she leads the academic and operational strategy of an institution serving 52,000 students and 1,100 faculty members. With more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience, she has served as Campus President, Vice Provost, and Dean. Her work has advanced student retention initiatives, developmental education reform, and strategic partnerships that support local and state economic development. She has also championed innovation in teaching and learning through the integration of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and extended reality, across academic programs. Dr. Rolle holds a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida.

Dr. David Ferreira

Campus Visit: Monday, March 9

Dr. David Ferreira serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Charter Oak State College in Connecticut and brings more than 20 years of higher education leadership experience focused on expanding access and strengthening workforce alignment. He has driven enrollment growth through development of workforce-aligned programs, strengthened transfer pathways, and strategic employer partnerships. Nationally recognized for innovation, he was named an AI Pioneer Fellow with Jobs for the Future and launched a statewide AI Academy providing learners with industry-recognized credentials aligned to evolving labor market needs. Dr. Ferreira holds a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Northcentral University.

Dr. Lisa Armour

Campus Visit: Tuesday, March 10

Dr. Lisa Armour serves as Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost of the Maricopa County Community College District, comprising ten independently accredited colleges serving more than 140,000 students. She has led large-scale institutional transformation, including redesigning shared governance and unifying core student-facing systems to improve access and outcomes. Previously, she served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Santa Fe College and contributed to the institutional work that led to the College earning the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. A former mathematics professor and dean, Dr. Armour holds a Doctorate in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida.

Community Open Forums

Each finalist will participate in a public forum from 4:00 - 5:00 pm on their respective campus visit date in Room 212 on the East Peoria Campus.

Community members are encouraged to attend and provide feedback. Input gathered during the forums will inform the Board of Trustees as it prepares to select the next president of Illinois Central College.

Please note: Finalists will not be available for media interviews during their campus visits or public forums.

Full candidate bios and additional information about the presidential search are available at icc.edu/presidential-search/.

Illinois Central College serves as a vital driver of educational attainment, workforce development, and economic vitality across Central Illinois. The College's next president will build upon ICC's strong foundation and guide its continued commitment to student success, transfer achievement, career readiness, and meaningful partnerships with business, industry, and community leaders.

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Illinois Central College is a two-year community college with campuses in East Peoria, Peoria and Pekin, Illinois, providing a high-quality, affordable education to prepare students to enter the workforce or to transfer to a four-year institution. ICC is the 2020 awardee of the National Community College Charles Kennedy Equity Award from ACCT, a 2022 and 2025 EDA Good Job Challenge Institution, and the Lead College for the state of Illinois' Workforce Equity Initiative. ICC also conducts original research in agricultural fields, including water quality and soil conservation. For more information, visit icc.edu.