Meet Your College and Career Navigator
Connect with your go-to-guide
Think of your College and Career Navigator (CCN) as your "go-to person," guiding and supporting you to become a CLC Lancer. CCNs provide you with information about college programs and services—and they’re really handy to help with your application and enrollment process. Connect with your CCN to:
- select first-semester courses
- learn about potential careers or how to up skill in your current job
- review your college financial plan
- become familiar with student support resources
- transition to CLC successfully
- find a sense of belonging
CCNs help everyone get started at CLC
- current high school students
- GED graduates
- homeschool students
- international students
- recent high school graduates
- student currently attending Tech Campus
- transfer students
- adult learners
Need help?
Email: ccn.onboarding@clcillinois.edu
Call: (847) 543-2090
International students, please email or call (847) 543-2399 the Department of Global Engagement to connect with your CCN.
Find your CCN
CCNs for current high school students
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Michelle Gutierrez
As a Lake County native, and an alum of Warren Township High School and CLC, I am so excited to be serving my home community and empowering college students to be successful! Education has always been a means of growth, career development, and self-discovery for me. As an educator and now CCN, I’m passionate about equipping students with the same confidence and resources to pursue their goals. After attending CLC for one semester, I transferred to Carthage College and studied Music and German, and ultimately became a teacher. I taught English in Germany via a Fulbright Fellowship, and later got my Masters and teaching certificate in Music Education from Northwestern University. I am so excited to draw upon my experiences as a first generation college student, teacher, and lifelong learner to help students utilize their strengths, and succeed in college and beyond.
- (847) 543-3559
- mgutierrez26@clcillinois.edu
M.S. Ed. in Music Education, Northwestern University
B.A. in Music and German, Carthage College
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Erin Temple
As a College and Career Navigator, I believe in encouraging students to take ownership of their educational and professional journey. I hope to collaborate with students to discover their passion and help define how they will use their education to not only improve their own lives but also their communities. With my studies in adult and higher education, I believe and am committed to supporting and empowering students in every step of their journey at CLC. I believe that my mentor from my undergrad and graduate experiences played a key role in my journey of finding my “why.” I hope to be that mentor to students to help them find their “why” and help define what success means to them.
- (847) 543-2429
- emartin8@clcillinois.edu
M.S. Ed. in Adult and Higher Education, Northern Illinois University
B.A. in Music, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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Jenny Vazquez
I am a native of Lake County and have loved working in my community and giving back. As a first-generation student, I know how difficult it can be to navigate college. I love helping my community and helping students find their passion and achieve their dreams. I want to be an advocate for my students so they know they have somebody in their corner. I am here to provide guidance and support to students and help them figure out the what-ifs in life.
- (847) 543-2572
- jvazquez32@clcillinois.edu
Master's in Administrative Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education from Roosevelt University
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Erin Temple
As a College and Career Navigator, I believe in encouraging students to take ownership of their educational and professional journey. I hope to collaborate with students to discover their passion and help define how they will use their education to not only improve their own lives but also their communities. With my studies in adult and higher education, I believe and am committed to supporting and empowering students in every step of their journey at CLC. I believe that my mentor from my undergrad and graduate experiences played a key role in my journey of finding my “why.” I hope to be that mentor to students to help them find their “why” and help define what success means to them.
- (847) 543-2429
- emartin8@clcillinois.edu
M.S. Ed. in Adult and Higher Education, Northern Illinois University
B.A. in Music, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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Jennifer Landmann
I was raised in Lake County and graduated from Warren Township High School. As a College and Career Navigator, I want to encourage my students and help them succeed in their educational and professional journeys. I hope to work with them and help them to discover their passions as well as their paths. I want to empower them and show them all the opportunities CLC has to offer.
- (847) 543-3530
- jlandmann1@clcillinois.edu
B.A. in International Studies, University of Wisconsin, Parkside
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Jennifer Landmann
I was raised in Lake County and graduated from Warren Township High School. As a College and Career Navigator, I want to encourage my students and help them succeed in their educational and professional journeys. I hope to work with them and help them to discover their passions as well as their paths. I want to empower them and show them all the opportunities CLC has to offer.
- (847) 543-3530
- jlandmann1@clcillinois.edu
B.A. in International Studies, University of Wisconsin, Parkside
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Jennifer Landmann
I was raised in Lake County and graduated from Warren Township High School. As a College and Career Navigator, I want to encourage my students and help them succeed in their educational and professional journeys. I hope to work with them and help them to discover their passions as well as their paths. I want to empower them and show them all the opportunities CLC has to offer.
- (847) 543-3530
- jlandmann1@clcillinois.edu
B.A. in International Studies, University of Wisconsin, Parkside
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Erin Temple
As a College and Career Navigator, I believe in encouraging students to take ownership of their educational and professional journey. I hope to collaborate with students to discover their passion and help define how they will use their education to not only improve their own lives but also their communities. With my studies in adult and higher education, I believe and am committed to supporting and empowering students in every step of their journey at CLC. I believe that my mentor from my undergrad and graduate experiences played a key role in my journey of finding my “why.” I hope to be that mentor to students to help them find their “why” and help define what success means to them.
- (847) 543-2429
- emartin8@clcillinois.edu
M.S. Ed. in Adult and Higher Education, Northern Illinois University
B.A. in Music, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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Michelle Gutierrez
As a Lake County native, and an alum of Warren Township High School and CLC, I am so excited to be serving my home community and empowering college students to be successful! Education has always been a means of growth, career development, and self-discovery for me. As an educator and now CCN, I’m passionate about equipping students with the same confidence and resources to pursue their goals. After attending CLC for one semester, I transferred to Carthage College and studied Music and German, and ultimately became a teacher. I taught English in Germany via a Fulbright Fellowship, and later got my Masters and teaching certificate in Music Education from Northwestern University. I am so excited to draw upon my experiences as a first generation college student, teacher, and lifelong learner to help students utilize their strengths, and succeed in college and beyond.
- (847) 543-3559
- mgutierrez26@clcillinois.edu
M.S. Ed. in Music Education, Northwestern University
B.A. in Music and German, Carthage College
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Erin Temple
As a College and Career Navigator, I believe in encouraging students to take ownership of their educational and professional journey. I hope to collaborate with students to discover their passion and help define how they will use their education to not only improve their own lives but also their communities. With my studies in adult and higher education, I believe and am committed to supporting and empowering students in every step of their journey at CLC. I believe that my mentor from my undergrad and graduate experiences played a key role in my journey of finding my “why.” I hope to be that mentor to students to help them find their “why” and help define what success means to them.
- (847) 543-2429
- emartin8@clcillinois.edu
M.S. Ed. in Adult and Higher Education, Northern Illinois University
B.A. in Music, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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Jennifer Landmann
I was raised in Lake County and graduated from Warren Township High School. As a College and Career Navigator, I want to encourage my students and help them succeed in their educational and professional journeys. I hope to work with them and help them to discover their passions as well as their paths. I want to empower them and show them all the opportunities CLC has to offer.
- (847) 543-3530
- jlandmann1@clcillinois.edu
B.A. in International Studies, University of Wisconsin, Parkside
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Erin Temple
As a College and Career Navigator, I believe in encouraging students to take ownership of their educational and professional journey. I hope to collaborate with students to discover their passion and help define how they will use their education to not only improve their own lives but also their communities. With my studies in adult and higher education, I believe and am committed to supporting and empowering students in every step of their journey at CLC. I believe that my mentor from my undergrad and graduate experiences played a key role in my journey of finding my “why.” I hope to be that mentor to students to help them find their “why” and help define what success means to them.
- (847) 543-2429
- emartin8@clcillinois.edu
M.S. Ed. in Adult and Higher Education, Northern Illinois University
B.A. in Music, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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Yazmin Patino
I am a Lake County native. I’ve lived in Round Lake for the majority of my life. I graduated from Grayslake Central High School, and I am also a College of Lake County graduate. As a first-generation student, navigating the world of higher education was a challenging experience. Starting my college career at CLC allowed me to develop both as an individual and as a student. As a College and Career Navigator, I strive to be a resource for all students as they navigate the world of higher education from application through enrollment. My goal is to help all students achieve their academic goals by offering resources to remove and overcome barriers.
- (847) 543-3524
- ypatino@clcillinois.edu
A.A., College of Lake County
B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology, Lake Forest College
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Ciara White
I was raised in Lake County and graduated from Zion Benton Township High School. Growing up as a first-generation college student helped me understand how important understanding the college process is for students. After college, I worked for a state agency where I helped students with financial aid and the college process. Since I have been through this process myself, I want to help others pursue the higher education dreams they desire. As a College and Career Navigator, my mission is to assist students with obtaining their higher education goals here at CLC.
- (847) 543-3518
- cwhite15@clcillinois.edu
B.A. in Communications, Northern Illinois University
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Araceli Mena
I am a proud Latina and Round Lake High School alumna. As a daughter of immigrants and a first-generation college student, I believe acquiring an education leads to endless opportunities. More importantly, education is a powerful tool to generate positive change in our communities. Navigating the college process from the initial step of applying to selecting courses can be overwhelming. My goal as a CCN is to empower and support students along their college journeys.
- (847) 543-2793
- Amena3@clcillinois.edu
B.A. in Psychology & Spanish, Lawrence University
M.A. in Higher Education Leadership, Northeastern Illinois University
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Erin Temple
As a College and Career Navigator, I believe in encouraging students to take ownership of their educational and professional journey. I hope to collaborate with students to discover their passion and help define how they will use their education to not only improve their own lives but also their communities. With my studies in adult and higher education, I believe and am committed to supporting and empowering students in every step of their journey at CLC. I believe that my mentor from my undergrad and graduate experiences played a key role in my journey of finding my “why.” I hope to be that mentor to students to help them find their “why” and help define what success means to them.
- (847) 543-2429
- emartin8@clcillinois.edu
M.S. Ed. in Adult and Higher Education, Northern Illinois University
B.A. in Music, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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Ariana Galvez
I was born and raised in Lake County and I am a proud Round Lake High School Graduate. Being a first-generation college student taught me how transformative education can be. I was able to get through the various challenges that presented themselves throughout undergrad because of my amazing support system. As a College and Career Navigator I am excited to give back to my community and provide a supportive space for students as they embark on their own journey of higher education.
- (847)-543-3567
- agalvez3@clcillinois.edu
B.A. Political Science, Bradley University
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Erin Temple
As a College and Career Navigator, I believe in encouraging students to take ownership of their educational and professional journey. I hope to collaborate with students to discover their passion and help define how they will use their education to not only improve their own lives but also their communities. With my studies in adult and higher education, I believe and am committed to supporting and empowering students in every step of their journey at CLC. I believe that my mentor from my undergrad and graduate experiences played a key role in my journey of finding my “why.” I hope to be that mentor to students to help them find their “why” and help define what success means to them.
- (847) 543-2429
- emartin8@clcillinois.edu
M.S. Ed. in Adult and Higher Education, Northern Illinois University
B.A. in Music, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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Quinnlyn Meadowcroft
I am a CLC alumna. It’s where I got my associate degree and played softball for two years. I grew up in Lake Villa and went to Grayslake North High School. After earning my A.A. at CLC I transferred to the University of North Carolina where I received my bachelor’s in criminal justice and bachelor’s in psychology. As a College and Career Navigator, I plan to work with students in deciding their next step in education, even if they haven’t yet found their passion for a specific career. I hope to help students find their interests in different fields while taking some of the pressure off “having it all figured out." There is no timeline for life, despite the societal pressures put on today’s generations. I hope to inspire students to succeed in not only their education but their life paths as well.
- (847) 543-2562
- qmeadowcroft1@clcillinois.edu
B.S. in Psychology, University of North Carolina
B.A. in Criminal Justice, University of North Carolina
A. A., College of Lake County
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Edward Hernandez
I grew up in Lake County but finished my high school education at Wheeling High School. Upon graduating, I was accepted at the University of Illinois in Chicago for engineering. As a first-generation Latino in STEM, I sought support in navigating higher education and engineering; I found my support system in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. As a leading board member, I had the opportunity to give back to a program that supported me so much. It was there that I discovered my passion for helping people. As a mentor and teacher's assistant, I learned how to support first- and second-year students effectively, achieve their academic goals, and transition into higher education. As a College and Career Navigator, I'm proud to continue helping alleviate students' concerns as they begin their educational journey here at CLC.
- (847) 543-3558
- ehernandez51@clcillinois.edu
B.S. in Engineering, University of Illinois in Chicago
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Jenny Vazquez
I am a native of Lake County and have loved working in my community and giving back. As a first-generation student, I know how difficult it can be to navigate college. I love helping my community and helping students find their passion and achieve their dreams. I want to be an advocate for my students so they know they have somebody in their corner. I am here to provide guidance and support to students and help them figure out the what-ifs in life.
- (847) 543-2572
- jvazquez32@clcillinois.edu
Master's in Administrative Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education from Roosevelt University
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Ciara White
I was raised in Lake County and graduated from Zion Benton Township High School. Growing up as a first-generation college student helped me understand how important understanding the college process is for students. After college, I worked for a state agency where I helped students with financial aid and the college process. Since I have been through this process myself, I want to help others pursue the higher education dreams they desire. As a College and Career Navigator, my mission is to assist students with obtaining their higher education goals here at CLC.
- (847) 543-3518
- cwhite15@clcillinois.edu
B.A. in Communications, Northern Illinois University
CCNs for adult learners
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Being a CCN is all about getting to know students and building relationships. This gives me the opportunity to directly impact student success. I am excited to work hands-on with students and steer them along the right path, playing an integral role in fostering student persistence and success through direct guidance and coordination of campus and community-based services. Through my role as CCN, seeing students who may have fallen short of their goals pick up and try again and helping students stay determined and focused is equally rewarding!
- (847) 543-3531
- icampos@clcillinois.edu
M.A., Catholic Theological Union
B.A., Western Illinois University
A.A., College of Lake County
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I am originally from Chicago, IL. I graduated in the fall of 2016 from Northern Illinois University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in communications. As a low-income, first-generation student, graduating from college was not easy. It is because of my experience that I feel deeply connected to college access and success.
Students are my passion. Leading with empathy, I believe it’s important to get to know who a student is and what is important to them. I want the students I work with to see me as a trusted adult who will treat them with respect and provide unfiltered support and guidance. My educational journey and prior work experience have led me to CLC, where I can help students through the admissions process, discover their dreams and turn them into reality.
- (847) 543-2889
- eoyinloye@clcillinois.edu
B.A. in Communications, Northern Illinois University
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I love to learn and am always looking to improve myself. I believe that education is essential in being able to better your life and you are never too old to learn. I have spent almost my entire working life helping people in some form or fashion and teaching in various capacities. Being able to help students of all ages from all walks of life with their educational and career goals is my way of giving back to my community, and I couldn’t be more grateful and happy to be able to do so.
- (847) 543-2800
- bgriffin@clcillinois.edu
B.A., Purdue University West Lafayette
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I attended the College of Lake County for my associate degree and then went on to Northeastern Illinois University to earn my bachelor’s degree. Before becoming a College and Career Navigator, I was a tutor at NEIU. I love working with students and helping them achieve their goals. As a CCN, I want to help put students on the path to success. I hope to encourage students to pursue their passions and give them the necessary tools to start their journey. B.A. in History, Northeastern Illinois University
- (847) 543-3523
- sjackson3@clcillinois.edu
A.A. in Education, College of Lake County
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I was raised in Waukegan, Illinois. CLC created so many opportunities for me both academically and professionally. I want to be able to provide students at CLC with the same if not better academic experience. I have experience in higher education, specifically financial aid. Through my experience working in financial aid, I have seen firsthand how much great guidance and support can positively impact a student’s overall college experience. As a CCN, I want to be able to become a resource for all students so that I can help them achieve their academic goals and overcome barriers.
- (847) 543-3538
- jcastro20@clcillinois.edu
B.A. in Sociology, Western Illinois University
A.A. in Sociology, College of Lake County
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I am excited to help students start their journey to success here at CLC and beyond. I believe that the holistic development of the student is imperative to students' success and CLC’s programs and resources will do more than prepare them for their bright futures. As a College and Career Navigator, I hope to assist students with everything they need to get started at CLC, from their initial inquiry about our programs to advising. I believe that post-secondary education is attainable for all students even those who have started their college journey later than expected. Everyone’s path may not look the same, but it is my job to help students find their own!
- (847) 543-2795
- Awhite8@clcillinois.edu
M.S. Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs, Northern Illinois University
B.A. in Psychology, Northern Illinois University
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Before becoming a College and Career Navigator (CCN), I earned my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Elmhurst University. My teaching experience sparked my passion for supporting all students and assisting them with their academic needs. As a CCN I strive to build relationships with students and guide them through the next steps of their education journey. I believe every student has their own path in order to reach their goals. I strive to guide them along the way in order to ensure they can be successful.
- (847) 543-3537
- adurava@clcillinois.edu
B.A. in Elementary Education, Elmhurst University
For international students
Students who are in the United States on a non-immigrant visa will meet with our International Student Recruiter in the department of global engagement.
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Laura Ruiz
Meet Laura, a dedicated higher education professional with over a decade of experience. Her passion for exploring the wonders of nature and her goal of visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites reflect her adventurous spirit and love for cultural diversity. Laura is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of learning. Her belief in education as a catalyst for social mobility and a cornerstone of global peacemaking drives her unwavering commitment.
As a double alumna of Northeastern Illinois University, Laura holds a bachelor's degree in Social Work and a master's in Educational Leadership, showcasing her commitment to her students’ personal growth and academic achievement. Her international perspective was further enriched through two transformative study abroad programs in Mexico at the Universidad de Guanajuato (UG) and the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP).
Laura is also a proud alumni of CLC and the daughter of immigrant parents. With her unique blend of experience and passion for both education and world exploration, Laura is a true advocate for positive change and global understanding.
- (847) 543-2399
- lruiz4@clcillinois.edu
Master's in Educational Leadership, Northeastern Illinois University
Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Northeastern Illinois University