Dr. Connie Hatcher
Ambassador, Awarded in 2016
IMSA Tenure: 1986 – 2004
Vice President for Educational Programs and Services
Vice President for Teaching and Learning
Director of Personnel and Planning
Assistant to the Executive Director
Secretary of the Board of Trustees
Dr. Connie J. Hatcher is IMSA's first Charter staff member to be designated as IMSA Ambassador. The Resolution by the IMSA Board of Trustees made in her honor on May 14, 2004 speaks to her contributions and commitment to the Academy:
Whereas, Connie Hatcher was the Academy's first employee, hired on February 3, 1986; and Whereas Dr. Hatcher has been an integral part of the growth of the Academy and has served with honor and distinction in several leadership capacities over 18 years, including director of personnel and planning and, most recently, vice president for educational programs and services; and Whereas, Dr. Hatcher demonstrated a deep and profound commitment to the entire IMSA community, including students, parents, educators, Trustees, faculty and staff; and Whereas, Dr. Hatcher provided exemplary leadership and dedication, giving generously and unselfishly of her time, energy and talents to advance the Academy's mission on behalf of the People of Illinois; and Be it further resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy gratefully acknowledges the unwavering commitment and extraordinary perseverance of Dr. Hatcher; that we are indebted to her selfless leadership and services; and that we wish her well in all her future endeavors.
Dr. Hatcher served as Secretary of the Governing Board in the first 11 years of IMSA's development and ensured compliance as a State Agency and exemplary educational institution. From 1986-1990 she designed and implemented all facets of personnel management in the opening of the Academy and worked with two full-time consultants in the initial six-month planning and development stages of the Academy's creation. She shared responsibilities for policy development and implementation for student admission, personnel recruitment, capital development, budget and fiscal management, student services and the academic program. Dr. Hatcher also provided key leadership in the construction of seven residence halls.
As Director of Personnel and Planning (1990-1997), Dr. Hatcher served as a senior member of the President's Cabinet. She provided leadership and ensured implementation of the Academy's Strategic Plan. She led the development and design process in the creation and construction of the Grainger Center for Imagination and Inquiry, and she served on the Outcome Council in articulation and definition of the Standards for Significant Learning (SSLs).
As Vice President for Teaching and Learning (1997-2001), Dr. Hatcher supervised six senior administrators and acted as senior advisor to the President and served on the President's Cabinet. She provided key leadership for external evaluation of IMSA's academic program and led, designed and implemented all components of CADRE. The result was the co-authoring of an article titled "Promoting Career Development Through C.A.D.R.E.," which was published in Educational Leadership (1996).
Dr. Hatcher served as Vice President for Educational Programs and Services (2001-2004). In this role, she served as senior advisor to the President and provided strategic senior leadership and oversight of all internal and external programs—including supervision of five senior administrators in Research and Evaluation, Curriculum and Assessment, Instructional and Academic Program, Online Learning, and External Programs and Services. Her dissertation was completed in 1990 and was titled, "The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy: A Case Study of the Creation of a Organizational Culture" and is available today through IMSA Archives.