Leadership

Dr. Cornille began his tenure as President of Heartland Community College in July 2018. Prior to joining Heartland, he spent 18 years at Madison Area Technical College, elevating to Executive Vice President/Chief Student Services Officer. Also, during his 40+ year career in higher education he has served in various roles at Indiana University-Southeast (New Albany, IN), College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, IL), and Richard J. Daley College (Chicago, IL).

Keith earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Edgewood College and a Masters in Education Administration from Northeastern Illinois University, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Eastern Illinois University, and earned an Associate of Arts from the College of DuPage.

Keith currently serves as Past Chair of the Illinois Community College Council of Presidents, is a member of the NJCAA Presidents Advisory Committee, and is active in the community serving on various Boards including the Chamber of Commerce, United Way of McLean County, Boys and Girls Club Community Advisory Board, Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, Greater Livingston Community Economic Development Council, and the OSF Health Community Advisory Board, just to mention a few. Keith also volunteers his time at Midwest Food Bank and provides other community service on a regular basis throughout the region.

Sarah Diel-Hunt serves as Heartland’s Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, providing strategic leadership for undergraduate academic programs, adult and continuing education, the College’s Strategic Enrollment Management Plan, and all enrollment services and marketing operations.

She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Southern Illinois University–Carbondale, as well as a master's degree in political science from the University of Northern Iowa and a bachelor's degree in political science and English from the University of Kansas. Her academic journey began at Coffeyville Community College, which she credits with preparing her for a successful transition to the University of Kansas.

Dr. Diel-Hunt is actively engaged in community and statewide service, contributing to initiatives that align educational programs with workforce needs and foster civic engagement among college students. She served as the inaugural community college representative on the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ American Democracy Project and authored a chapter on creating civic pathways between 2-year and 4-year colleges in Community Colleges for Democracy: Aligning Civic and Community Engagement with Institutional Priorities.

Her statewide leadership includes serving as President of the Illinois Community College Chief Student Services Officers Commission. She currently serves on the Education Advisory Board (EAB) Research Council for Community College Leaders.

Click the links below to learn about some departments and services in Sarah's area.

• Academics
• Admissions
• Adult Education
• Apprenticeships
• Challenger Learning Center
• Continuing Education
• Early College/Dual Credit Partnerships
• Marketing
• Testing Center

Noah Lamb (MBA, Youngstown State University), and currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership, has more than 17 years of progressive leadership experience in higher education finance and administration.

He serves as Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer, providing executive oversight of the College’s fiscal and administrative operations, including budgeting, accounting, investments, human resources, information technology, facilities management, capital planning, athletics, risk management, and public safety. As a key advisor to the President and Board of Trustees, Noah aligns financial strategy with institutional priorities to support student success, community engagement, and long-term fiscal and operational sustainability.

Prior to joining Heartland, Noah held financial and administrative leadership roles at public and private institutions, including Wittenberg University, Hodges University, and Marshall University. Across these roles, he led institutional budgeting and forecasting, debt restructuring, capital planning, enterprise system modernization, and operational transformation initiatives. His experience includes overseeing complex financial operations, guiding institutions through periods of change, and advancing student-centered and mission-driven outcomes through effective stewardship and cross-functional collaboration.

Noah is actively engaged in professional and community service and is a recipient of the 2025 Pantagraph 20 Under 40 Leaders of Distinction Award, recognizing emerging leaders who demonstrate professional excellence and a strong commitment to community impact. He is a member of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), participates in the Community College Business Officers (CCBO) Network, serves as Treasurer of the Heartland Community College Foundation, and sits on the Illinois Symphony Orchestra Board. He is engaged in other local civic and cultural organizations and is proud to call the Bloomington–Normal community home.

Click to links below to learn more about the Finance & Administration team.

• Athletics
• Business Office
• Facilities Management
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Risk Management & Public Safety

Amy Pawlik (Ph.D. Eighteenth Century British Literature and Women’s Studies, Purdue University) guides strategy development for the Enrollment and Student Services unit. She also provides leadership for all areas of the Student Support Services division, which includes Dean of Students Office, Title IX, Student Access and Accommodations, Counseling and Wellness Services, International Programs, Career Services, Project Rise, Student Support Grants, and the Child Development Lab. Dr. Pawlik serves as a member of 100 Women for Good.

Click the links below to learn about some of the HCC resources in Amy's area.

• Student Support Services
• International Students
• Child Development Lab

Chris Downing (Ph.D. Education Administration, Illinois State University) assists the President in fundraising and serves as the Executive Director of the Heartland Community College Foundation. He additionally provides leadership for the College’s community relationships and strategy development for the Lincoln and Pontiac campuses.

Dr. Downing is a member of the Bloomington-Normal Sunrise Rotary, the Greater Livingston County Economic Development Council, and the Illinois Foundation Executive Director Consortium. He also is a college representative to key community initiatives across the district.

Click the links below to learn about HCC resources in Chris' area.

• Lincoln
• Pontiac
• Foundation
• Alumni

Jennifer O’Connor (MSN – Nursing, University of St Francis) assists the Vice President for the Academic Affairs unit. She leads initiatives, programs, and reporting related to student learning outcomes assessment and in the instructional development of faculty and online learning. Ms. O'Connor also provides leadership for Academic Support services, which includes the Library, Tutoring Services, Online Learning, and Instructional Technology.

Ms. O’Connor serves as a board member of the Community Health Care Clinic and is the current president of the Illinois Associate Degree Nursing Deans and Directors group.

Click the links below to learn about HCC resources in Jennifer's area.

• Assessment Committee
• Teaching & Learning Commons
• Online Learning
• Library
• Tutoring Services

Terrance Bond (Ph.D., Higher Education Administration, Illinois State University) serves as Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Equity, leading the College’s strategic planning, institutional research, and continuous improvement efforts. He oversees Institutional Research and supports implementation of college-wide priorities, ensuring data-informed decision-making aligned with strategic goals. As Senior Advisor on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), Terrance advances equity-centered practices and collaborates across the institution to promote access, student success, and a culture of continuous improvement.

Dr. Bond has over 20 years of experience in higher education and has served in several leadership roles at Heartland Community College since 2017, including Title IX Coordinator, Associate Dean of Students, and Assistant to the President. He has served statewide as President of the Illinois Community College Diversity Commission (ICCDC) and has contributed to multiple Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) initiatives, including the Equity Plan Advisory Committee. Locally, he serves as a board member for the Multicultural Leadership Program (MCLP).

Lindsay Eickhorst (Ed.D. Higher Education: Community College Leadership, Northern Illinois University) serves as the Associate Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management. In this role, she leads the development, implementation, and oversight of the College's Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Plan while providing leadership for the Enrollment Services division.

With almost 20 years of service at Heartland, Dr. Eickhorst is committed to developing a student-centered enrollment experience that promotes access, persistence and success. Additionally, her role provides leadership for all areas of the Enrollment Services division, which includes Admissions, Advisement, Financial Aid, Records, Early College Opportunities, and the Testing Center, ensuring seamless support for our students.

Dr. Eickhorst is actively engaged in community service, contributing to initiatives that positively impact residents of Central Illinois by expanding access to resources and services, strengthening community partnerships, and creating opportunities for collaboration that support student and workforce success.

Departments in Lindsay’s area:

• Admissions
• Advisement
• Financial Aid
• Records
• Testing Center
• Early College/Dual Credit Partnerships

Laura Hughs (MS Accountancy, Illinois State University) supports the Vice President for the Finance and Administration unit with oversight of the Business Office and Risk Management and Public Safety.

With over 15 years of experience in nonprofit government and education, Laura has worked in finance and budget, audit, risk management, and human resources. Before joining Heartland, she served as the Director of Accounting for Bloomington Public School District 87 in Bloomington, IL, and also worked as an Accountant at the City of Bloomington Finance Office.

Laura's accomplishments include being selected as a 2021 Leaders of Distinction Twenty under Forty award winner by the Mclean County Chamber of Commerce. She is also a member of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). In addition to her professional pursuits, Laura generously volunteers for various charitable and community organizations, with a special focus on her church and her children's school.

Click the links below to learn about HCC resources in Laura's areas.

• Business Office
• Risk Management & Public Safety

Melanie Fata (MS – Communication, Illinois State University) oversees all human resources operations for the College with responsibility for day-to-day management related to employee and labor relations, talent acquisition, recruitment, compensation management, benefits administration, talent development, performance management, and applicable regulatory compliance.

With more than 20 years of experience in higher education human resources, Melanie has held HR leadership roles at Illinois State University and Illinois Central College before joining Heartland Community College in 2022 as the Director, Human Resources. Since February 2025, she has been serving as the College’s Executive Director, Human Resources, and Deputy Title IX Coordinator.

Melanie is a member of the Bloomington-Normal Human Resource Council (Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) affiliate) and the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR).

Click the link below to learn about HCC resources in Melanie’s area. 

Human Resources 

Scott Bross (BS – Information Systems, Illinois State University) has served as the Chief Information Officer at Heartland Community College since 2015. He leads information technology efforts for both administrative and academic needs, overseeing a wide range of operational and information systems.

His responsibilities include managing enterprise systems and integrations, cybersecurity, cloud and network infrastructure, physical campus technology, and student success and support systems. Having received his degree later in life, Scott brings a personal understanding to his role that allows him to relate closely to the adult learners who attend Heartland. Prior to joining the College, he spent over 15 years as a corporate IT Manager, where he directed network and data center management, disaster recovery, and cloud systems development. Earlier in his career, he served as a Managing Partner and President of ICEnet, one of the first internet service providers to the Bloomington-Normal area between 1994 and 1999.

Scott is a strong believer that community colleges play a vital role in fostering healthy district growth by bridging individuals into professional careers and increasing their earning potential.