New vice president selected

The next vice president for academic affairs at Kankakee Community College will be Kiana Battle, Ed.D., an academic leader who has recorded success at every stage of her academic career. 

Battle is currently dean of career programs at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. She will be KCC’s chief academic officer, responsible for administering the college’s credit and non-credit instruction and workforce development programs. Battle will start at KCC effective Jan. 4.

“I am honored and beyond excited for the opportunity to join Kankakee Community College as the next vice president for academic affairs,” Battle said. “I look forward to contributing to the ongoing success and innovation at this great institution, while supporting the college’s mission of ‘Enhancing quality of life through learning.’ I look forward to working with our faculty and staff as we strive to meet the educational needs of our students and community.”

Battle began her career at WMAQ television in Chicago, where she was a newscast assistant director and director for 12 years. She then became director of visual and media communications programs for Kennedy-King College, part of the City Colleges of Chicago. Then, from 2011 to 2014, she served as associate dean of instruction for career programs at Kennedy-King College. In January 2014, Battle accepted the position of assistant dean of career programs at Moraine Valley Community College. She was promoted to be the dean of career programs in October of the same year.

She also has experience as a Higher Learning Commission Accreditation Reaffirmation Committee member.

In 2019, Battle received the League for Innovation/Moraine Valley Community College Vernon O. Crawley Leadership Award.

“We are all very excited about the energy that Dr. Battle is going to bring to Kankakee Community College,” said Michael Boyd, Ph.D., KCC’s president. “She comes to us with extensive experience in supporting career programs, and I know that she is skilled at working with our partners to ensure the college is meeting the needs of the communities we serve.  Personally, I’m really excited to work with Dr. Battle because I know that she is a dynamic leader who will move the college forward in so many ways.”

Battle is a graduate of Columbia College, Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast communications; Roosevelt University, Chicago, with a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications; and Benedictine University in Lisle with a doctorate in education in higher education and organizational change.

Battle will fill the position previously held by David Naze, Ph.D., who left KCC June 30. She currently lives in the south suburbs of Chicago, with her daughter, Brooke.