Dr. Sherry Aaker to head PJC Student Services
Published or Revised September 18, 2008
Dr. Sherry Aaker marks her first week at Paris Junior College as the new vice president of Student Services after serving as dean of Student Services for Spoon River College near Peoria, Ill. "PJC is fortunate to have Dr. Aaker with her varied experience in student services as part of the PJC administrative team," said PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin. "She will lead the effort as we move forward with increased services available for our students to help students achieve their educational goals." Prior to working at Spoon River College, Dr. Aaker was dean of Student Services at Wilson Technical Community College in North Carolina and director/ADA coordinator of Disability Services and Special Adult Programs for Volunteer State Community College in Nashville, Tenn. Her extensive background also includes instructor and professor of business, computer, math and algebra courses, tutoring, and coordinating Talent Search programs at both Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, and Howard Community College in Columbia, Md. Early in her career, Dr. Aaker worked as an assistant curriculum librarian for Southwest Missouri State University and teacher with Walnut Grove and Boone school districts in southwestern Missouri. "I am very excited to be here at PJC, with its distinguished history and reputation," said Dr. Aaker. "I am looking forward to supporting all PJC students in achieving their academic goals. Serving students is my main objective. I am pleased to have the opportunity to assist Dr. Anglin and her team in pursuing and advancing the mission and her vision for PJC." Dr. Aaker received her Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education Administration from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn.; her Master of Administrative Science from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., and her Bachelor of Science in Education from Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. She also holds Lifetime Certificates in Elementary and Special Education from the State of Missouri. Dr. Aaker is, or has been, active with a number of professional and volunteer organizations including the Illinois Council of Community College Administrators, the National Institute of Leadership Development for the American Association of Community Colleges, YWCA, Wilson Chamber of Commerce, Tennessee Association of Higher Education and Disabilities, National and Tennessee Student Personnel Associations, and Middle Tennessee State University's Leadership Training Institute. Dr. Aaker has also coordinated and implemented several conferences on Disabilities Services/ADA on local, regional and state levels. She has worked on smoking cessation projects, workforce development committees, institutional master planning, and student retention plans.