“The Council is pleased to have President Farley as a Board member,” said CIC President Richard Ekman. “CIC continues to implement many new programs, projects and services and needs a strong Board of Directors to oversee their planning and execution. I am certain that Dr. Farley will serve the Council admirably, and I look forward to working with her.”

CIC is the only national higher education association that focuses solely on providing services and a broad range of initiatives directly to independent colleges and universities to help improve the quality of education and strengthen institutional resources. 

Since becoming the 14th president of Illinois College in 2013, President Farley has defined a vision for the College to inspire achievement and empower students to make a difference in the world. Under her leadership, the College has reached new heights in donor engagement and giving, celebrated breakthroughs in academic innovation, upgraded its world-class learning facilities and experienced a 10-year high in enrollment. 

President Farley’s professional experience spans five institutions, where she has taught and provided leadership in higher education since 1985. Her most recent role prior to IC was vice president of academic affairs and dean of Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is active nationally in higher education, currently serving as chair of the board for the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities. She served previously as president of the Associated Colleges of Illinois, as part of the Tax Policy Committee for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and on the Executive Committee for the Federation of Illinois Independent Colleges and Universities.

Farley is one of five directors elected by the Council of Independent Colleges Board of Directors during its January meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her term will run from January 2019 to January 2022.