Dr. Farah Bennani

Dr. Farah Bennani is a distinguished higher education executive, scholar-practitioner, and global leader in digital learning, with more than 25 years of teaching, administrative, and strategic leadership experience across community colleges, multi-campus systems, and four-year institutions. She currently serves as Dean of Math, Science, and Engineering at Elgin Community College, where she leads academic initiatives, advances innovation in teaching and learning, and promotes the responsible integration of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to improve student success, institutional effectiveness, and workforce readiness.

Throughout her career, Dr. Bennani has held senior academic leadership roles that reflect both breadth and depth of expertise in STEM education, online learning, accreditation, workforce development, and institutional transformation. Her previous roles include Inaugural STEM Dean at Northampton Community College, Dean of STEM and Business at Mercer County Community College, and Associate Dean for Online Science and Math for the Colorado Community College System’s 13-college consortium. In these capacities, she has provided leadership for large academic divisions, multimillion-dollar budgets, faculty and curriculum development, program assessment, accreditation processes, and cross-institutional partnerships aligned with regional, national, and global workforce needs.

Dr. Bennani has secured and managed more than $1.5 million in competitive grants from leading federal, state, and foundation sources, including NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, and state agencies. These initiatives have expanded access to STEM education, strengthened undergraduate research capacity, supported innovation in science and technology pathways, and advanced opportunities for historically underrepresented students.

In addition to her institutional leadership, Dr. Bennani serves as President and Global Partnership Chair of the United States Distance Learning Association, where she advances innovation in online and blended education and builds strategic partnerships across Europe, South America, Africa, and the Middle East. Her work supports global collaboration, student mobility, academic exchange, and the development of inclusive, technology-enhanced learning ecosystems.

A nationally and internationally recognized thought leader in digital learning, STEM advancement, and AI integration, Dr. Bennani has received numerous honors, including the NASA Minority University Research and Education Project Award, the USDLA Trendsetter Award (Gold), and the McGraw Hill Pathfinder Award. Fluent in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish, she brings a global perspective, data-informed leadership style, and a sustained commitment to inclusive excellence, academic innovation, and student achievement.