Today, the Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) announced the appointment of Moraine Valley Community College’s vice president of Student Development, Dr. Normah Salleh-Barone, to the Housing Authority of Cook County Board of Commissioners. She will serve a five-year term as a commissioner on the board.

Salleh-Barone has long been an advocate for addressing concerns related to the need for decent, affordable housing.

“When I was Moraine Valley’s director of Multicultural Student Affairs in the early 2000s, I first learned about one of our student leader’s experience with housing insecurity. I worked with my colleagues at the college to research what resources were available for our homeless students,” she said.

The Housing Authority of Cook County has a long-standing history of supporting residents’ educational goals. Most recently, HACC has partnered with community colleges across suburban Cook County to provide scholarships and support to HACC’s community members.

“The intersection between poverty and education is something we’re acutely aware of here at HACC,” said Richard Monocchio, HACC Executive Director. “We’re so pleased to have such an esteemed education professional join our Board. We’re positive that the insights provided by Dr. Salleh-Barone will serve our residents well.”

Salleh-Barone has served as the college’s vice president of Student Development since 2010.

“Over the past 10 years, I began to realize the number of students who self-report as being homeless or who have housing insecurity has become too frequent,” she said. Salleh-Barone believes her position on the board will give her the opportunity to provide the perspective of a higher education administrator.

She was excited when she learned of her appointment and is eager to make a meaningful contribution.

“I hope to expand and extend my services on behalf of Moraine Valley. I am proud to represent an institution that is so highly respected, where our students always come first. And we have to remember the communities where our students live. By serving as one of the board’s commissioners, I will be able to continue to support our students and their families who live in this county,” Salleh-Barone said.