RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Dr. Sharon K. Hahs, President of Northeastern Illinois University, announced her retirement on July 6, 2016 after nine years of dedicated and inspired leadership; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of her retirement by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sharon K. Hahs, a Mid westerner by birth, earned a Masters of Science degree and a PhD in inorganic chemistry from the University of New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, With more than forty years of experience in higher education in teaching and administration, Dr. Sharon K. Hahs served as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of Special Projects at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville; and
WHEREAS, Following a nationwide search, the Northeastern Illinois University Board of Trustees formally appointed Dr. Sharon K. Hahs the fifth President ofthe University effective on November 16, 2006;and
WHEREAS, The appointment of Dr. Sharon K. Hahs marked only the second time a woman had been named to lead Northeastern since the campus opened in the Hollywood Park community of Chicago in September 1961; and
WHEREAS, Under Dr. Sharon K. Hahs' strong leadership and guidance, Northeastern Illinois University experienced unprecedented facility expansion and program growth; and
WHEREAS, During her presidential tenure Dr. Sharon K. Hahs dedicated four new buildings and six centers; and
WHEREAS, President Sharon K. Hahs oversaw the construction of Northeastern's new 55,000 square-foot El Centro campus location at 3390 Avondale Avenue that serves students and the Latino community as a classroom building and as a focal point of civic and cultural life; and
WHEREAS, As a key component of Northeastern Illinois University's "Decade of Dreams" Master Plan initiated by President Sharon K. Hahs in 2013, the first student residential hall will open on campus in the fall of 2016; and
WHEREAS, President Sharon K. Hahs and her administrative team established new planning councils, including a revised University Planning and Budget Council, the University Advisory Council, the Great Service Matters Program (Learn and Lead Symposium) the Enrollment Management Council, the Development Council, the Ombuds Program, and the Presidential Fellows Program; and;
WHEREAS, President Sharon K. Hahs' strategic plan resulted in the creation of new degree programs, including a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Studies and a Latino and Latin American Studies and an M.A.T. in Early Childhood Education; and
WHEREAS, President Sharon K. Hahs furthered the University's commitment to diversify the student population, and improve graduation rates; and
WHEREAS, The same publication ranked Northeastern Illinois University as the most ethnically diverse among public institutions; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council assembled this twentieth day of July 2016, do hereby thank Dr. Sharon Hahs for nine years of distinguished leadership of Northeastern Illinois University and congratulate her on her retirement; and
erman Edward M. Burke Alderman, 14th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Sharon K. Hahs.