PALATINE, IL – The Harper College Board of Trustees has approved the appointment of Dr. Ronald Ally as the College’s new Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations, effective July 1, 2010. Dr. Ally has more than 17 years of experience in Illinois community colleges, having served as Vice President for Administrative Services and Treasurer at McHenry County College; Director of Financial Affairs and Controller at College of DuPage; and Controller at Moraine Valley Community College.
He will succeed Judy Thorson, Vice President of Administrative Services, who retired from Harper last year.
Dr. Ally is a Certified Public Accountant and a consultant and evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission, and is a former member of the Finance Advisory Committee of the Illinois Community College Board.
Most recently, he was Chief Financial and Operations Officer for School District U-46 in Elgin. His educational finance experience also includes serving as a manager at a public accounting firm that specialized in working with local and state government units, including community colleges, school districts and municipalities.
Dr. Ally holds a doctorate from Northern Illinois University, and has earned a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He has presented at national and local conferences and workshops on public finance topics, and has been active in professional organizations – serving as Secretary of the Illinois Association of School Business Officers’ Accounting Committee and Treasurer of the Community College Insurance Consortium, and sitting on committees for the Illinois CPA Society and the Central Association of College and University Business Officers. He holds an Illinois Type 75 Chief School Business Official certification.
Dr. Ally was chosen for the Harper position following a national search, and spent two days on campus with administrators, student leaders, faculty and other employees as part of the interview process.
He was formally appointed at the Harper College Board of Trustees’ regular meeting on Thursday, April 15.