A ‘Hands-on’ Approach to Community Education
(June 30, 2016) After handling interim duties for about a year, Colette Hands, Ed.D., officially begins her duties as Oakton Community College’s associate vice president of continuing education, training and workforce development on July 1.
With more than 20 years of experience in the fields of workforce development, higher education and human resources, Hands’ responsibilities include overseeing adult and continuing education programs that meet the needs of community members and business and industry partners. She oversees Oakton’s adult basic education, English as a second language (ESL), non-credit career and certificate programs, as well as continuing education for licensed health professionals.
“Oakton provides personal and professional educational opportunities in a variety of formats and locations for all learners,” Hands said. “This role brings together my passion for lifelong learning, facilitating professional development and serving our communities, and I'm excited about continuing to serve the college in this capacity.”
Hands serves as a commissioner for the Village of Skokie Economic Development Commission, as a member of the board of directors for the chambers of commerce in both Des Plaines and Evanston and as the college’s primary contact to businesses, municipalities, governmental, community and health-related agencies and professional associations.
Her previous roles included serving as Oakton’s director of workforce development and corporate training, where she managed the development and execution of customized contract training programs for business and industry partners; director of career development and internships at North Park University, where she managed employer and student outreach efforts, career counseling and internship initiatives for the undergraduate population; and as the workforce development center director for a City of Chicago one-stop career center.
“My first priority is to identify critical opportunities that support student success at the college, including building and maintaining strategic partnerships with our school districts and community partners to provide pathways for students at Oakton, while also connecting with our partners in business and industry to provide them with workforce solutions that support their needs,” Hands said.
A licensed professional counselor, Hands also serves as adjunct faculty for the community counseling and counseling psychology programs at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology.
Hands holds a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and both a master of arts in community counseling and doctorate in counseling psychology from The Illinois School of Professional Psychology.
