Roots and Branches JJC Alumni Podcast

Jen Davis currently serves as the Annual Giving and Alumni Relations Manager at Joliet Junior College. As a former English instructor, she has spent more than two decades in higher education serving students at various points in their educational and professional careers. In her current role, Jen works to foster meaningful relationships with JJC alumni, bridging past experiences with present opportunities. Her outreach efforts include planning small and large-scale events, designing and executing yearly social media, direct mail and e-campaigns, and collaborating with other departments on campus to keep alumni engaged and connected. On occasion, Jen will also expand her role to that of JJC’s mascot, Wiley Wolf, for on-campus events and print media.

Amanda Quinn currently serves as the Director of Institutional Advancement at Joliet Junior College, where she leads the college's fundraising efforts with a focus on major gifts and corporate support. With over 15 years of experience in fundraising, communications, and marketing, Amanda aligns fundraising strategies with the college’s priorities to ensure growth and success. She has a proven track record of enhancing annual fund programs, organizing key events, and cultivating valuable relationships with donors. Amanda's strategic vision and dedication have significantly contributed to the advancement of Joliet Junior College.

Dr. Judy L. Mitchell served as the ninth president of Joliet Junior College (JJC) from 2016 until her retirement in 2022, after beginning her tenure as interim president in March 2016. She was honored with President Emerita status in 2022. A committed community leader, Dr. Mitchell served on multiple boards, including the Silver Cross Hospital Board and Habitat for Humanity. She was also active in the Rotary Club of New Lenox and the Lincolnway Area Business Women's Organization. During her leadership, JJC navigated Illinois' fiscal crisis, reducing operating costs by over $2 million and securing more than $5.4 million in grants in FY15. In FY22, she presented JJC's 49th consecutive balanced budget. Under her guidance, JJC received the GFOA Best Practices Award for Budgeting and the AACC Advancing Diversity Award in 2021. Dr. Mitchell earned numerous accolades, including the Silver Cross Hospital Sangmeister Medal of Excellence (2024) and the Governor State University Distinguished Alumni Award (2023). She was also awarded the Gary W. Davis Ethical Leadership Award in 2021 and the Zonta Club of Joliet’s Woman of Distinction Award in 2018. Her career at JJC spanned 26 years, starting in 1996, and included leadership roles in Adult and Family Services, Business and Auxiliary Services, and Administrative Services. She holds a doctorate in community college leadership from National-Louis University, an MBA, and a Bachelor's degree from Governors State University. In retirement, Dr. Mitchell founded Judy Mitchell Consulting, a firm dedicated to supporting community colleges, continuing her commitment to student success.

Dr. Paige Niehaus is a passionate leader with 34 years of community college experience. In July 2021, she became the Dale Mabry Campus President for Hillsborough Community College (HCC) in Tampa, FL. As the President of HCC’s Dale Mabry Campus, she strives to lead with grace and compassion, supports being a human-centered institution, and utilizes design thinking as a means to understand and meet the needs of students, faculty, staff and the community. Prior to HCC, she served as the Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Innovation Officer at Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) in Detroit, MI, and as the Director for Workforce Development at Joliet Junior College (JJC) in Joliet, IL. Dr. Niehaus earned a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI, and a Master of Science in Training in Development and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Organizational Management from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL. She is a proud community college graduate having earned an Associate of Applied Science and an Associate in Arts at Joliet Junior College. Dr. Niehaus is a servant leader active in her community and is a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Tampa. She is the current Chair for the HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital Board of Trustees, and a member of the West Tampa Chamber Board of Directors, the HCC Foundation Board, the City of Tampa’s Drew Park Community Redevelopment Agency Community Advisory Committee, and LEAP Tampa Bay College Access Network. Previous community commitments include serving on various non-profit and foundation boards. She is mom to Abbie, Jay, and Mark and lives in Tampa, FL, with her husband Gary and one spoiled golden retriever Bosco.