About the President

About the President

Dr. Daniel J. Phelan has served as President and CEO of Jackson College, Michigan, since 2001. His leadership is marked by continuous innovation, intentional governance, and a commitment to student success. Under his guidance, Jackson College has redefined its culture with the creation of the Total Commitment to Student Success (TCS2). Dr. Phelan is a recognized national speaker and author, with numerous professional articles, monographs, essays, and books to his name, including his most recent work, The Community College Board 2.0: Covenant Governance (2021).

Dr. Phelan is deeply engaged in the broader community college movement, serving as Chairman of the Board for the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE), Vice-Chair of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society (PTK), and a board member of the League for Innovation in the Community Colleges. Additionally, he serves as a peer evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission and is certified in board governance, with a special focus on Policy Governance.

His service extends to multiple organizations, having been Past-Chairman of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), and served on the AACC Advocacy Advisory Group, the Higher Education Research and Development Institute (HERDI), the Jackson County Enterprise Group, and the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA). Dr. Phelan co-chaired the AACC 21st-Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges, which redefined the role and mission of community colleges.

Locally, Dr. Phelan is committed to advancing the Jackson community, collaborating with various organizations to improve quality of life, student outcomes, and workforce development. He is the Chairman of the Board for Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, a board member of the Enterprise Group, Jackson College Foundation, and the Henry Ford Health System Board of Directors in Detroit.

Dr. Phelan holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Iowa State University, an MBA from St. Ambrose University, and both a BA in Business Administration and an AA in Liberal Arts from Mount St. Clare College. He has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Continuous Quality Improvement Network’s Legacy Award, the ACCT CEO of the Year Award for the Central Region, the Phi Theta Kappa Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, and the Iowa State University Alumni Award.

Dr. Phelan is married to Dr. Adriana Phelan, and they have four children: Katie, Michelle, Maggie, and Isabella, as well as an Australian Labradoodle named Oreo.

Press Photos

Photos are available for the press or other organizations wishing to use photographs of the president for publication. Please contact the office of marketing and communications if you wish to use a photo.