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Chemeketa President Jessica Howard Named Chair Of Campus Compact Board Of Directors -07/31/25
National appointment highlights President Howard’s continued leadership in advancing equity, access, and community engagement in higher education.
Salem, Ore., July 31, 2025 — 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.”
About Chemeketa Community College
Chemeketa Community College serves over 30,000 students annually across its district in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Offering affordable, high-quality education and training, Chemeketa prepares students for university transfer, high-demand careers, and community impact through career and technical education, adult basic skills, and workforce development. Learn more at chemeketa.edu.
About Campus Compact
Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. Our college and university members make up a force of thousands of presidents, faculty, researchers, students, and civic and community engagement experts at colleges and universities. Campus Compact envisions a world in which all of higher education commits to advancing an equitable, accessible, and just democracy. We support, engage, and challenge higher education to serve as responsive and transformative agents of change by empowering colleges and universities to address complex social issues and further equity, justice, and prosperity for all. Visit compact.org.