JWCC Foundation Board to be host of dinner honoring retiring president on Dec. 1

November 13, 2022 | By Muddy River News

Michael Elbe | Photo courtesy of John Wood Community College

QUINCY — The JWCC Foundation Board will be the host of an evening to honor retiring President Michael Elbe beginning at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, with a social hour and dinner and a program to follow. The event will be at the Quincy Country Club.

Reservations are $50 per person. To buy tickets, contact the JWCC Advancement Office at 217-641-4105 or online at https://jwccfoundation.org/give-now/ by Nov. 25.

After a remarkable 36 years of coaching, teaching, administration and service in higher education, Elbe announced early this year his plans to retire from the Illinois Community College System and transition out of his position at the college effective Dec. 31. Elbe assumed the office of the president in 2014.

During Elbe’s tenure, JWCC has been recognized for its trailblazing leadership across a wide range of key student success areas. These include working with a strategic focus collaboratively to create innovative and relevant academic and training programs with regional business leaders to support the workforce.

Elbe leaves a legacy of achievement. JWCC is fiscally strong and positioned well for new leadership to take the helm. The college opened a new agricultural sciences complex in Baylis this fall, the expansion project at the JWCC Workforce Development Center is under way, and JWCC’s 50th anniversary will be celebrated in 2023-24.

Elbe has served on numerous boards, such as chair of the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce and the Great River Economic Development Foundation; president of the United Way of Adams County, the Workforce Innovation board, Tri-State Development Summit; leader of the Adams County Together Task Force during COVID; executive member of the Lower Illinois River Valley Rural Prosperity Initiative, and presidential representative for the National Junior College Athletic Association.

A native of Camp Point, Elbe earned an educational specialist in administration in December 2013. He received a master of science in education from the University of South Alabama and a bachelor of science in education from Quincy University. Elbe was awarded an honorary doctor of education on May 14 for his years of service to the educational community from Culver-Stockton College.