Dr. Alfred Wisgoski, who led Illinois Valley Community College from 1974 until 1996, has died at the age of 93. During his tenure, Dr. Wisgoski was instrumental in fostering both academic innovation and technological upgrades, supporting student achievement and institutional growth. Colleagues highlighted his steadfast vision and commitment to education, crediting him with shaping the college’s progress and enhancing economic opportunities in the region. Dr. Wisgoski’s legacy endures in the programs and partnerships he championed, leaving an indelible mark on the Illinois Valley community and the generations of students whose lives he touched.
“A president has an opportunity to create a climate, an environment. Whether or not something happens that is good depends on a lot of cooperation from a lot of people. Otherwise, it just does not happen,” Dr. Wisgoski once said.
The Peru native’s 47-year bond with the College began when he enrolled in LPO Junior College in the 1950s. “If it were not for LPO, I would not have had a chance to go on and do some of the things I have had the opportunity to do,” he told a local newspaper.
