President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey to Retire at End of 2025
Dr. Quirk-Bailey has served as president of ICC since July 2016 and leaves a legacy of transformational leadership focused on student success, equity, and workforce innovation.
After nearly four decades of service in higher education, Illinois Central College (ICC) President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey has announced her retirement, effective December 31, 2025.
Under Dr. Quirk-Bailey’s leadership, ICC has experienced a remarkable era of progress. The College has experienced five consecutive semesters of increased enrollment, a 66% reduction in developmental education placements without compromising student success, and improved graduation and retention rates. Student services were expanded and enhanced to better support the needs of all students.
Dr. Quirk-Bailey championed the creation of nationally recognized workforce programs that strengthen the regional economy while transforming lives, including the Workforce Empowerment Initiative (WEI), the IT Workforce Accelerator, and the first prison education program in the country funded by federal Pell grants. Since its inception, the WEI program alone has lifted more than 1,200 individuals out of poverty, with participants seeing an average increase of nearly $33,000 in annual wages.
“It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve ICC and this community. The work we have accomplished together has laid a strong foundation for the future, and I’m confident ICC will continue to change lives and strengthen our region for years to come.”
Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey, Illinois Central College President
Additional strategic initiatives ICC will launch under their strategic plan include year-round 8-week scheduling, the expansion of micro and stackable credentials, the development of boot camps and competency-based education models, and the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning platform to support the next decade of growth.
The ICC Board of Trustees will conduct a national search for the College’s next president.
“Dr. Quirk-Bailey’s positive impact on Illinois Central College—and on the thousands of students and families whose lives have been changed through education—cannot be overstated,” said ICC Board of Trustees Chair Cindy Byrd. “She has led with vision, diligence, and an unwavering focus on student success. On behalf of the Board, we thank Dr. Quirk-Bailey for her extraordinary service and look forward to honoring her significant contributions to ICC and the greater community.”