President - College of Lake County

Presidential Profile

The Board of Trustees of the College of Lake County invites nominations and applications for the position of President.

About College of Lake County

The College of Lake County (CLC) is a comprehensive community college committed to meeting the ever-changing needs of the diverse communities of Lake County by delivering affordable and accessible education and services across three campuses, online programming, an Advanced Technology Center and Urban Farm Center. CLC is committed to high performance and strategic stewardship of public resources through the application of a $140 million budget. CLC serves more than 35,000 community members and 23,000 students annually through offerings that include 40 liberal arts and career-focused associate degrees, 115 short-term certificates, dual credit delivered to 24 high schools and nearly 5,000 students. Additionally, CLC has over 30 Guaranteed Transfer Admission agreements with universities and provides community programming for elementary school students through centenarians, non-credit and professional development classes, and incumbent workforce training.

CLC has robust co-curricular programming to engage students outside the classroom including 13 intercollegiate sports and e-sports teams, more than 36 clubs and organizations, global education programming, and a performing arts center.

CLC is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution according to the Higher Education Act by the U.S. Department of Education. CLC serves diverse student population: 43% Latinx, 35% White, 7% Black, 7% Asian, and 7% Other. CLC is a designated Leader College of Distinction by Achieving the Dream, recognized as a top 200 U.S. community college by the Aspen Institute, and, through data-informed whole-college transformation, is achieving record outcomes in graduation rates.

About Lake County

Located along the shores of Lake Michigan in northeastern Illinois, Lake County is one of the most dynamic and prosperous regions in the Midwest. As part of the greater Chicagoland metropolitan area of nearly 9.4 million residents, the county combines economic vitality, cultural diversity, and an exceptional quality of life. Home to more than 700,000 residents, Lake County offers a unique blend of vibrant urban centers, welcoming suburban communities, and scenic natural landscapes.

Nearly half of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher—well above national averages—creating a deep talent pool that supports innovation and economic growth. Lake County is home of the second largest concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters in the Midwest including AbbVie, Abbott, W.W. Grainger, Baxter International, CDW and Discover Financial Services. As a regional hub for business, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and professional services, Lake County is supported by a robust workforce ecosystem supported by the College of Lake County and numerous educational, civic, and industry partners.

Lake County is highly accessible, with four Metra rail lines and 32 stations connecting residents to downtown Chicago, an extensive Pace suburban transit network, and more than 550 miles of trails and bikeways. Three international airports—Chicago O'Hare, Chicago Midway, and Milwaukee Mitchell—provide convenient access to destinations around the world.

Role of the President

The new president of the College of Lake County will serve as a highly visible advocate throughout the local communities, state-wide, and nationally. The president will be an inspirational, transparent, and visionary leader. This transformational leader must be committed to building trust and addressing the following challenges and opportunities.

• Academic Excellence, Enrollment, Workforce Development
  • Support Academic Excellence & Student Outcomes: Partner with faculty to uphold instructional quality and effective evaluation of student outcomes, while maintaining an understanding of the complementary value of career, technical, and liberal arts education.
  • Foster Student Success and Expand Access: Demonstrate a strong commitment to implementing strategies that boost enrollment, retention, and completion of students’ educational goals and support of lifelong learning amid a changing student landscape.
  • Grow Academic and Workforce Offerings: Ensure the continued quality and growth of academic and workforce offerings. Integrate emerging technologies, innovative teaching methods, and suitable learning models to keep pace with rapidly changing education and workforce training needs.

     

• Government Relations, Fundraising, Resource Development
  • Develop and Strengthen Government Relationships: Continue to strengthen relationships with local, state, and federal entities, as well as elected and appointed officials, to advocate for the college’s interests.
  • Build Community Partnerships and Institutional Advancement: Explore and increase new and existing revenue streams through strategic partnerships, business partnerships, philanthropic outreach, community engagement, and fundraising initiatives. Encourage and support grant-writing initiatives throughout the College. Actively support and provide leadership for the College’s Foundation Board.
  • Support Employee Relationships: Demonstrate knowledge of collective bargaining with a solid understanding of union and employer rights, responsibilities, and the principle of good faith negotiation through interest-based bargaining principles. Build and nurture shared decision-making across constituent groups and support shared governance.

     

• Characteristics and Skill Sets

• Visionary Student-Focused Leader: Guides the college into the future with a learner-centered focus and clear strategic direction; implements effective strategies to improve retention and completion rates; and supports and engages in all campus life activities.
• Team-Focused and Transparent Communicator: Fosters an environment of mutual respect and open communication; serves as an authentic, approachable leader with high integrity and emotional intelligence, skilled at making tough decisions, building trust, and driving collaboration.
• Strategic and Culturally Knowledgeable Leader: Builds trust, empowers employees, champions transformative ideas, and sets clear, measurable goals for accountability; recruits, retains, and develops talented employees; and demonstrates an evidence-based commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Fiscally Astute Leader: Demonstrates a proven track record of managing large, complex budgets aligned with an institutional strategic plan.
• Community Relations and Educational Partnerships Builder: Creates and strengthens strategic partnerships, working closely with business, industry, and education partners (regional school districts and higher education institutions) to enhance economic impact and community building.
• Innovation & Technology Integrator: Supports innovative processes to align emerging technology with the needs of students, employees, and programs to enhance college operations and the student experience.
• Board Relations Advocate: Understands, cultivates and values a strong relationship with an elected governing board; communicates openly and honestly about college operations; and works with the board to preserve effective governance practices for the greater good of the institution.

   

  Minimum Qualifications

• A master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is required; an earned doctorate or other terminal degree is preferred.
• Progressive, senior-level administrative experience in higher education is required. Experience at a community or technical college is strongly preferred.
• College teaching experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of the CLC community.

Compensation and Benefits

The annual salary range for this position is $286,000 - $320,500 commensurate with experience and qualifications. The College of Lake County offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health, dental, and vision insurance, participation in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS), paid time off, and other employee benefits. Additional details can be found at https://clc.touchpointsonline.com/