Chemeketa Community College is pleased to announce that President Jessica Howard has been named Chair of the Board of Directors for Campus Compact, a prestigious national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the public purposes of higher education.

As Chair, Dr. Howard will provide leadership and guidance as Campus Compact executes its strategic plan, focused on empowering students to drive community change, supporting engaged faculty and staff, promoting community-engaged research and practices, and building institutional capacity for civic and community engagement.

“It is my honor to serve as Board Chair for Campus Compact, an organization committed to supporting, engaging, and challenging colleges and universities to realize their public purpose,” said Jessica Howard, president of Chemeketa Community College and new chair of the Campus Compact Board of Directors. “In these uncertain times, I believe that building capacity for people, campuses, and communities to partner in furthering equity, justice, and collective prosperity could not be more important. With Campus Compact, this work continues and grows, and I am excited to lead the Board as the organization leans in to meet the moment and build upon its 40-year history of advancing higher education’s role in a just democracy.”

President Howard joins a distinguished group of higher education leaders on the Campus Compact Board, including presidents and chancellors from 12 institutions and experts from nonprofit and private sectors across the country.

“In this moment, leaders committed to the public mission of higher education matter more than ever,” said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. “We are grateful to have a leader such as President Howard chair our board of directors and help us further our mission. Under her guidance, we will be poised to make great strides in pursuit of our mission to support, engage, and challenge higher education to realize its public purpose.”