The former president of Prairie State College has been hired as executive director of the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce, according to the business group.
Terri Winfree had been president of the Chicago Heights community college since 2013 and stepped down earlier this year.
She was the first woman and first Prairie State graduate to lead the school.
Winfree began her job earlier this month with the Oak Forest-based chamber, and also was hired recently by Governors State University in University Park as an adjunct faculty member in the university’s School of Extended Learning.
“As a life-long advocate of the Southland, Dr. Winfree can successfully lead the chamber and board of directors to ensure the Southland region has continued access to information, resources and advocacy to promote community and business prosperity,” chamber chairman Craig Schmidt said in a statement.
Winfree received her associate’s degree from Prairie State in 1996 followed by a bachelor of arts degree in 1998, then studied at Governors State for her master of arts degree in communication studies/human performance and training.
In 2012 she received her doctorate in education and human resources from Colorado State University.
According to a Governors State article from earlier this year, Winfree was the first in her family to attend college. She came to Prairie State College as a returning adult student, and eventually began to work there in a number of entry-level positions.
Those jobs led to positions at the college including dean of continuing professional education and vice president of community and economic development, before being named president, according to the GSU article.
Winfree joined Governors State earlier this year in the university’s school of extended learning, which offers non-degree options tailored for non-traditional students, including working professionals, veterans, active-duty military and limited-English speaking students.
The school’s offerings include continuing education courses, corporate and small-business training and recently introduced contact tracing.
Schmidt, in the release, said that Winfree has met with chamber members about their perspectives and what they want from the chamber, particularly amid the obstacles chamber members face with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
mnolan@tribpub.com
