An Oakton College professor who spends her spare time volunteering for and helping to lead several local organizations has been honored by the Evanston/North Shore chapter of the NAACP.
Ella Whitehead, a Skokie resident who serves as Oakton’s director of Admission and Equity Outreach, was recognized with the NAACP’s 2025 President’s Award.
Oakton College, in a statement, called Whitehead “a driving force behind expanding educational opportunity and ensuring every student can thrive at Oakton College.”
The college noted she also serves as a leader across the region, including in roles with the North Shore Section of the National Council of Negro Women, the Skokie Public Library, and the Skokie Community Foundation.
Whitehead accepted the honor from the historic civil rights organization at the Evanston/North Shore Branch’s 61st Annual Freedom Fund Banquet, Nov. 15.
“Ella’s commitment to advancing equity and student empowerment aligns deeply with the mission of Oakton College,” said Joianne L. Smith, Ph.D., Oakton’s president.
In her role as an Oakton administrator, Whitehead oversees Admissions, Equity Outreach, International Student Services, and the Emory Williams Academy, the college said in a statement.
Beyond Oakton, Whitehead is the chartering president of the North Shore Section of the National Council of Negro Women, immediate past president of Oakton’s chapter of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges, and an active member of the Evanston/North Shore NAACP, Skokie Valley Rotary Club, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She also serves on the Skokie Public Library Board and the Skokie Community Foundation Board. Additionally, she volunteers with the Youth Job Center, mentoring young people and helping them develop job-readiness skills.
Whitehead earned a master’s degree in Human Resource Development from Northeastern Illinois University and is pursuing a doctorate in Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In her studies, she focuses on diversity, equity and access in higher education.
“I’m truly humbled to receive the President’s Award from the Evanston/North Shore Branch of the NAACP,” said Whitehead. “This honor means so much because it reflects the heart of what drives me every day — lifting as we climb, standing up for what’s right, and building a community where everyone is seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.”
