Ali serves as Vice President of the Community & Workforce Partnerships unit at College of Lake County, a comprehensive community college enrolling 23,000 students annually. While having worked in higher education for 25+ years, she currently specializes in external engagement to promote innovative education and workforce solutions. She served as the executive sponsor for the Advanced Technology Center project that transformed a vacant big box into a center for manufacturing excellence. A community college graduate herself, she earned degrees from Kishwaukee Community College (A.A.), Northern Illinois University (B.A.), DePaul University (M.Ed.), and National Louis University (Ed.D.).