Avis Proctor, president of Harper College in Palatine, Illinois, received the 2026 Marie Y. Martin Chief Executive Officer Award from the Association of Community College Trustees. The national award recognizes Dr. Proctor’s leadership in advancing student success, institutional innovation, and community college education.
Dr. Proctor took the helm of Harper College in 2019 as the community college’s sixth president. Earlier in her career, she was president of the North Campus of Broward College in Coconut Creek, Florida.
With more than 30 years of experience in education, Dr. Proctor has been involved with advancing proposed community college baccalaureate legislation, helping inform and influence statewide dialogue and policy considerations focused on expanding access, affordability, and workforce‑aligned bachelor’s degree pathways. At Harper, she has focused on expanding education and employment opportunities for students, launching new academic programs, and collaborating with partners in K-12 education, higher education, business, and community organizations.
An HBCU graduate, Dr. Proctor earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Florida A&M University. She holds a master’s degree in teaching mathematics from Florida Atlantic University and a doctorate in higher education from Florida International University.
