Valerie Roberson

Valerie R. Roberson has been a community college administrator for over 30 years. She has served as president, vice presidents of academic affairs and of institutional advancement, dean and director of various programs, faculty member, researcher, and student advisor. Currently, Dr Roberson is President of Roxbury Community College (RCC) where she has led the transformation of the College through $72M in construction projects; re-staffing of the College leadership team; stabilization of College finances; realignment of academic programs to ensure student transfer and employment; and compliance of all operations with external agency standards. She has inspired innovations including the elimination of developmental education, increased use of online instructional materials (reducing costs for students), and the provision of social services to assist students in degree completion. These changes have led to increased rates of student retention, transfer, and graduation.

Dr Roberson served as vice president of academic affairs at Joliet Junior College, which is recognized as the nation’s first public community college and serves over 15,000 college students in 100 degree and certificate programs. Through her leadership, Community College Times recognized Joliet Junior College in June of 2012, as one of the top 100 producers of associate degree graduates in the nation. Under Valerie’s leadership, Olive-Harvey College (OHC), of the City Colleges of Chicago, improved its overall image, increased student enrollments, developed new academic programs, and increased college financial resources.

Dr Roberson earned her doctorate in higher education administration from Illinois State University in 2002. She holds a master’s degree in adult education: employee training and development from Roosevelt University and a bachelor of science in psychology from Bradley University.