JJC Foundation Executive Director Retires Following $2.3 Million Estate Gift

December 21, 2025/
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Joliet Junior College Board Meeting | Dec. 10, 2025

Article Summary: Longtime Joliet Junior College Foundation Executive Director Kristi Mulvey announced her retirement at her final board meeting, capping a 24-year career with the announcement of a massive donation. The Foundation has received a $2.3 million gift from the estate of Dr. Carolyn Engers.

Foundation & Retirement Key Points:

  • Major Donation: The Foundation will collect a $2.3 million donation from the Dr. Carolyn Engers estate, bringing Engers’ total giving to $2.4 million.

  • Additional Funding: Mulvey announced anticipated funds from retiree Dr. Jacqueline Soljegren, whose total giving is expected to surpass $3.5 million.

  • Scholarship Growth: The Namuo Family Endowment, which supports first-generation students, has surpassed $100,000.

  • Honors College: The board viewed a promotional video for the new Dr. Curtis J. and Mrs. Gina Crawford Honors College, which currently supports 33 students.

The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees bid farewell to a key administrator on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, as Foundation Executive Director Kristi Mulvey delivered her final report before retirement.

Mulvey, who has served the college for nearly 25 years, used her final appearance to announce a significant financial windfall for the college. She revealed she would be collecting a donation of $2.3 million from the estate of Dr. Carolyn Engers the following evening.

“It’s been an experience of a lifetime and I know JJC will continue to do great things,” Mulvey told the board.

President Dr. Clyne Namuo praised Mulvey’s legacy, noting that her success wasn’t just about transactions, but relationships. He shared a story of a former student, Joanne Schock, who received a scholarship from Mulvey years ago and returned as a retiree to celebrate Mulvey’s career.

“She’s baked a lot of cookies. She’s delivered a lot of mums,” Namuo said. “That’s what will live on… a deep care and concern for the human beings who support the college.”

Mulvey also highlighted the success of the recent President’s Employee Holiday Party, which raised approximately $7,000 for the Namuo Family Endowment.

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