Dr. Heinrich came to Elgin Community College (ECC) from the Illinois Community College Board in 2007. She was originally hired as the associate dean of Adult Education and subsequently served as the dean of Adult Education and Workforce Development prior to moving into her current position as the vice-president of Teaching, Learning, and Student Development, a position she has occupied for the past six years. In this position, Dr. Heinrich oversees ECC’s academic and student services and development divisions.

As a dean, Heinrich brought innovative programming and success to adult learners through her leadership within the college and state in areas such as Integrated Education and Training and bridge programming. In this role, she was also instrumental in bringing the “Education and Work Center” in Hanover Park to life through a partnership with Harper College, the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, and the Village of Hanover Park.

As the vice president of teaching, learning, and student development, Heinrich has led numerous efforts that have assisted ECC in closing equity gaps, contributing to ECC’s designation as a Leader College of Distinction by Achieving the Dream in 2021. She cultivates a solution-oriented culture consisting of compromise and consensus-building. During her tenure as VP, the college has greatly expanded dual credit offerings, launched a comprehensive Quality Improvement Project for the HLC focusing on Improving Equity through the Assessment of Student Learning, and successfully negotiated nine agreements with ECC’s labor unions throughout the pandemic, maintaining quality, rigor, and instructional continuity for ECC students.

Heinrich holds a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership, a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics with a concentration in Teaching English as Second Language, and a bachelor of arts in English/Secondary Education with a minor in Communications.