For her camaraderie and dedication to the college’s Eight Expectations, Kate Wachtor was the 2026 recipient of the Dr. Vernon O. Crawley Leadership Award.

Since 2021, Wachtor has been the assistant dean of Enrollment Services, which comes with some intensely student-oriented responsibilities. As she put it, “My husband is a fireman, and I would say I probably put out more fires than him. They say the registrar takes care of issues you didn’t know you had.”

Wachtor oversees a large subdivision within Enrollment Services, Records and Registration. She helps students, faculty and staff with records; processes all new, continuing and graduating students; advances state and federal enrollment and financial aid reporting requirements; and takes the lead on reviewing and updating policies and procedures on issues such as student privacy, certification of census and midterm grades, in-district tuition for students experiencing homelessness and administrative withdrawals, among many other duties.

After working in the criminal justice field for a few years post-college, Wachtor transitioned into higher education. She claims she was not academically inclined until reaching college as a first generation student but found her niche in a community college setting.

“I love working at a community college because I can relate. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, had to pay my way and discovered who I was and wasn’t,” she explained. “The job can be frustrating, and I get overwhelmed, but I really do enjoy my work. I like problem solving, especially when I can fix a barrier for a student or solve a problem.”

Wachtor’s work style centers on understanding how all the college’s departments work together and how they relate to her. She attempts to get to the root cause of any issue and eagerly calls people to ask questions and have chats to find solutions. When she first started at Moraine Valley, Wachtor had to learn new processes and practices as well as how they differed from her prior employer, Kankakee Community College. She listened to coworkers and was not afraid to admit if she did not have an answer and was willing to troubleshoot.
“I’m very collaborative. I tell people I don’t have all the answers but will work hard to get them. I’m very open about that,” she noted.

Her nominator and colleagues highlighted her dedication to students and willingness to collaborate.

“She is always patient, professional and purposeful in her words and actions. No matter how much is placed on her plate, she remains level-headed and polite. She is a great partner to IT!,” said Sherita Tyler, director of Enterprise Applications and Web Services.

Another colleague, Kelly Grab, compliance officer, stated, “Kate is solution-minded and student-focused. She is the ultimate team player. She has no ego and rarely accepts accolades, believing she is ‘just doing her job.’ Whenever a new initiative or committee is formed, I hope Kate is on the team because when she is, I know we’re in good hands.”

Her nomination also included some specifics about how she has improved processes in her department.

“Early in her tenure, she identified inconsistencies in the college’s Last Day of Attendance reporting, which created barriers for readmitting former students. Through research and a student-focused approach, she recommended the adoption of an institutional drop policy in fall 2022 to improve student outcomes and ensure accurate census reporting. As a result, the college has seen a reduction in student complaints, more accurate enrollment data and greater opportunities for former students to re-engage with the institution,” shared Dr. Dave Marcial, dean of Enrollment Services.

Wachtor was thankful to the committee for selecting her and honored to be recognized for her efforts.

“I was very honored to be nominated. It meant a lot to me. To win it was another shock. It’s nice to be appreciated in that way. Being able to identify with Dr. Crawley and seeing past winners and being recognized alongside them is an honor,” Wachtor expressed. “Dr. Crawley has the Eight Expectations, and there are many I identify with.

I have an upbeat approach, enjoy going to work and have a good time. We spend so much time here, and I want to feel it’s not a drag to come here and that it’s a supportive, welcoming environment. I’m very fortunate I have a wonderful staff – they make my job so much easier. This institution has given me so much in such a short time.”