History

Served : January 2016-Present

Dr. Laurie Borowicz

Kishwaukee College selected its first female President with the hiring of Dr. Laurie Borowicz in 2016. As a leader through some of Kish’s most challenging times, including a two-year state budget impasse and the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Borowicz has transformed the College to meet student and community needs. As a relentless advocate of student success, she facilitated many initiatives to increase student completion and success to the highest levels in College history. In 2025 the College implemented an “All-In” tuition model, with tuition, fees, and textbooks just one cost for students.  The model promotes cost transparency and student success, saving students and their families millions of dollars, and makes all textbooks available to students on day one of class.  

Through Dr. Borowicz’s tenure, Kishwaukee College has increased its commitment to equity for all students. In 2019, Kish joined the Partnership for College Completion to help eliminate the achievement gap for students of color and low-income students. In 2022, Kishwaukee College was awarded the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Equity and Diversity Award for the progress made to improve outcomes for all Kish students. Kishwaukee College became a majority-minority College in 2023 and was named a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2024, with more than 25% of students identifying as Hispanic. In 2025, Kish was selected by the Aspen Institute as one of the Top 200 Community Colleges in the United States.

Partnerships are a cornerstone of Dr. Borowicz’s tenure. She forged relationships with the local business community by creating internships and other work-based learning opportunities for students. By partnering with other educational institutions, Kish expanded transfer options by creating pathways from high school to Kish to NIU and other universities. With a focus on supporting area student-athletes, the College increased the number of athletic teams and recruitment from local high schools.

To demonstrate a unified culture at Kish by agreeing on how we treat and interact with each other, Dr. Borowicz led the writing of the College Civility Statement in 2022, a joint project between administration, the board and unions/employee groups.

Honoring Dr. Borowicz’s legacy of open, honest, student-focused leadership, the Illinois Community College Trustees Association awarded her the 2024 Gary W. Davis Ethical Leadership Award.

Served: April 2007-December 2015

During his tenure as President, Dr. Tom Choice oversaw the creation of new academic programs, initiated the Honors Program and expanded dual credit options with local high schools. Under his leadership in 2009, voters passed a referendum allowing the College to make major improvements to the campus, including expansion and renovation of campus parking lots, roadways, and landscaping, athletic field improvements, a new Student Center and Campus Operations Building, and extensive classroom and office renovations. Dr. Choice oversaw key projects such as the College’s first Campus Master Space Plan and the first Strategic Plan since 1998. He worked with the Board of Trustees to organize several new working committees, including the Executive Board Committee, Board Audit Committee and Board Finance Committee. In 2014, Kish was selected by the Aspen Institute as one of the Top 150 Community Colleges in the United States. Dr. Choice was elected by his peers to serve as Secretary, Vice President and President of the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents. Before serving as President of Kish, Dr. Choice was the Vice President of Instruction.

Served: July 2000-April 2007

Dr. Dave Louis served Kishwaukee College in a variety of roles before taking over as President. Starting at Kish in 1973, Dr. Louis started as a counselor and Coordinator of Financial Aid before taking on the role of Associate Dean and Administrative Dean. In 1986, he was named Kish’s Vice President and held the role until taking over as President. During his tenure, Dr. Louis oversaw major additions on campus, including the construction of the Conference Center, the Therapeutic Massage Clinic, additional classrooms, and expansion of the Caukin Building. Along with expansions to the College’s campus, Kish saw a continuous growth in the student population under Dr. Louis’s leadership, posting some of its highest enrollment numbers ever. The College continued its mission to provide education and training responsive to the community's needs, and in 2002, Kish received the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce’s Industry of the Year Award for its efforts. Dr. Louis and his wife, Mary Anne, continue their involvement at Kish through the Kishwaukee College Foundation.

Served: May 1978-June 2000

Kish’s longest-serving president has been actively involved with the College since its inception. Before serving 22 years as Kish’s President, Dr. Norman Jenkins started at the College before it officially opened to head the Student Services department and later served as Dean of Students and Executive Dean. Under Dr. Jenkins’ leadership, Kish saw the addition of a new Science and Health Care Wing, maintenance building and the C-Wing — all while providing sound financial stewardship. Academically, Dr. Jenkins focused on the development of coursework and curricula to meet the ever-changing needs of the Kishwaukee College District. Dr. Jenkins was instrumental in the development of Kish’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter — an honor society for two-year colleges — and earned the national organization’s Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction in 1998. During his time as President of Kish, Dr. Jenkins also served as President of the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents. In 2019, Dr. Jenkins was the recipient of the John C. Roberts Community Service Award, and he was appointed an Emeritus Board member on the Kishwaukee College Foundation Board in 2023. 

Served: July 1967-May 1978

Kishwaukee College’s first president was hired in July 1967 about one year before the college officially opened its doors. From Hillsboro, Texas, Dr. W. Lamar Fly was instrumental in the early development of the college, overseeing the purchase of the campus site and construction of the original buildings, including the greenhouse, Caukin Building and Early Learning Center. Dr. Fly helped oversee voter referendums that allowed the College to raise funding for all of its original buildings. Longstanding symbols of the College, such as the College crest, school colors and mascot, were selected under his leadership. After identifying community needs, Kish made strides in creating its initial programs, developing athletic teams and their facilities, forming the school newspaper, and creating a GED program. The student body and Kish’s campus increased dramatically during Dr. Fly’s 11 years as President. During his time at Kish, he served as President of the Illinois Junior College Administrators Association. Before Kish, he served as the first president of Hill Junior College of Hillsboro.