Professional Development

Heartland Community College offers a variety of employee professional development opportunities both internally and through external partnerships. 

International Education Statement

Heartland has a stated commitment to promote International Education and serve as a resource to unique and innovative learning opportunities for our community. Towards that end, and in recognition of the significant and lasting positive impact that a global perspective can bring, Heartland encourages expanding the international perspective to both students and faculty through memberships in the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs (ICISP), through whom students can study abroad, and faculty can gain valuable professional development.

Furthermore, Heartland welcomes many international students to our community through International Programs. Please refer to the international student page or call 309-268-8043 for more information.

Committee for Global Education

The Committee for Global Education (CGE) is the advisory body to the International Programs office tasked with reviewing matters related to international curriculum and programs. The goal of this committee is to provide a coordinating body in order to facilitate connections and dialog across departments and programs in regards to international initiatives and global education.

Mission

To facilitate the internationalization of Heartland Community College:  

  • Internationalize curriculum. 
    • Develop and promote curriculum that includes global perspectives. 
    • Provide resources and training opportunities for faculty & staff 
  • Internationalize physical space. 
    • Promote international perspectives/aesthetics in visual spaces around campus (art, displays, flags, news, etc)  
  • Promote global awareness and global perspectives among the campus community. 
    • Support access for international students
    • Support students from diverse identities & backgrounds 
    • Support participation in a variety of diverse organizations & partnerships. 
    • Promote activities and available resources 
  • Facilitate and expand student experiences abroad 
    • leverage existing external international partnerships  
    • Encourage new collaborations

Vision

Students will become globally aware and competent citizens:  

  • Cultivate global perspectives 
    • Develop knowledge of basic geography, history, and similarities and differences among diverse cultures. 
    • Maintain a knowledge of worldwide current events 
  • Develop a self-awareness of place in world 
    • Recognize and respectfully respond to different cultures 
      • Recognize cultural basis of self & identity  
    • Recognize how societies/cultures depend on each other in areas such as  
      • Art & education  
      • Environment & history 
      • Health & security  
      • Political systems  
      • World economies
  • Foster intentional cross cultural interactions  
    • Demonstrate appreciation for differences / diversity  
    • Encourage willingness to learn about differences/diversity

Members

Tammy Truitt-Simeone (Administrative Co-Chair)
Associate Dean of Students
Student Support Services
Tammy.Truitt@heartland.edu
Department Phone: 309-268-8153

Gwen Lee (International Programs Co-chair)
Associate Director of International Programs
International Programs
gwen.lee@heartland.edu 
Department Phone: 309-268-8026

Zach Petrea (Faculty Co-chair)
Professor of English
Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
zach.petrea@heartland.edu
Phone: 309-268-8613

Wayne Bass
Professor of Humanities & Religion
Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
wayne.bass@heartland.edu
Department Phone: 309-268-8620

Sara Bourque
Academic Advisor
Advisement
Sara.Bourque@heartland.edu
Department Phone: 309-268-8033

Ashley Carrel
Coordinator, Student Success
Student Support Services
Ashley.Carrel@heartland.edu
Department Phone: 309-268-8339

Sanae Ferrier
Assistant Adjunct Professor
Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
sanae.ferrier@heartland.edu
Department Phone: 309-268-8620

Jeremy McClure
Executive Dean, STEM and Business

STEM and Business
Department Phone: 309-268-8640

Christopher Miller
Professor of Industrial Technology
Career & Technical Education
chris.miller@heartland.edu
Department Phone: 309-268-8860

Martha Stearns
Assistant Professor, Medical Assistant
Health Sciences
martha.stearns@heartland.edu
Department Phone: 309-268-8750

Stephanie Turner
Assistant Professor, Physical Therapist Assistant
Health Sciences
Stephanie.Turner@heartland.edu
Department Phone: 309-268-8750

Breezy Watkins
Associate Professor, Business & Accounting
Executive Dean, STEM and Business
Breezy.Watkins@heartland.edu
Department Phone: 309-268-8638

Goals

Professional Development in global education at Heartland Community College is coordinated by the Committee for Global Education and intends that all opportunities allow for the participants to demonstrate:

  • Familiarity with specific other cultures, countries, and regions  
  • Discipline-specific knowledge and skills related to internationalized content presented throughout the course 
  • Appreciation for the importance of culture and context in decision-making 
  • Successful navigation of cultural and linguistic differences  

News & Events

As news and events occur related to International Programs, we will endeavor to keep you updated!

View News & Events

Internal Resources

Employees have many opportunities to support and interact with international students through the following:

External Resources

Heartland's partnership with the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs (ICISP) offers many valuable opportunities for those who wish to expand their international education experience including:

  • 2-week academic exchange to Finland, Netherlands, and China
  • semester faculty liaison positions to England, Ireland, and Spain
  • summer liaison positions to Costa Rica, France, Ireland, Italy, and Spain
  • international site visits to all our study abroad destinations
  • webinars & training opportunities

Learn more about the external options available to employees through our participation in the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs.

Contact Information

International Programs Office

Phone: 309-268-8033
Email: international@heartland.edu 

Gwen Lee

Associate Director, International Programs
Primary Designated School Official (PDSO)
Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO)
Email: gwen.lee@heartland.edu
Phone: 309-268-8043

Study Abroad

Zach Petrea

Study Abroad Coordinator
ICISP Representative
Email: zach.petrea@heartland.edu 
Phone: 309-268-8613

Emergency Reporting Form

Study Abroad Request Form

DACA/Undocumented Student Resource Liaison

Jessica Pickel

Dean of Students
Email: jessical.pickel@heartland.edu 
Phone: 309-268-8057